Willard May

Willard Weston May passed away peacefully on Aug. 16, 2016, in Jerome, Idaho, surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, and burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain Home.

Weston was born March, 16, 1933, in Apples Springs, Texas; the youngest of five children born to Osie Lee and Juanita Fern May.

After living in Oklahoma, Weston and his family moved to Merced, Calif., where he attended school before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1951. He served his country in the Korean War, earning the following: National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, China Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and the Good Conduct Medal.

In 1955, he returned to Merced, Calif., where he met his soul mate, Joyce Jones. They were married on Dec. 6, 1956, and started their family of five children before moving to Hughson, Calif., in 1972.

Weston worked as a supervisor for the California Department of Transportation until his retirement. He and Joyce raised their family in Hughson and spent their later years in Mountain Home.

He shared his love of the outdoors with his children and grandchildren. Many summers were spent camping and exploring the Northern California and Oregon Coasts.

He was a quiet man, strong in his faith. He loved God and family and lived a life of integrity, demonstrating his belief in hard work, prayer and forgiveness. His was a role model to many and a living example of how to be a Godly husband and father.

His legacy will live on in the many lives he touched.

Weston is survived by his children, Gwen May, Debbie (Ed) Hawkins, David (Maria) May, Kathie (Mike) Neff and Julianne Rohrs; and his brother, Grove "Shorty" May; as well as nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Joyce; his parents, Osie and Juanita; his brothers, W.L. "Lucky" and Bill "Skeets;" and his sister, Wanda.