Mary Ellen May

On 24 November, 2016, Mary Ellen (Andrus) May entered God’s heavenly gates with thanksgiving, at age 86. She was the devoted wife of Charles May for 55 years, the mother of five, and well-known in the Laurel community as a Girl Scout leader, a First United Methodist congregant, and a piano teacher.

Mary Ellen was born on April 25, 1930 in Takoma Park, the daughter of Mary Page and L. Miller Andrus. Her father was a patent officer, and the family moved to Richmond, VA, for 2 years when the U.S. Patent Office was relocated there during WWII. She graduated from Coolidge High School in Washington, D.C. in 1947 and received a degree in Home Economics from the University of Maryland in 1951. Her best friend, Bonnie May, introduced Mary Ellen to her older brother, Charles, who was serving in the U.S. Navy, and the two were married in December of 1951; a skilled seamstress, Mary Ellen made her own wedding gown.  The couple lived in New Haven, CT, for 6 years while Charles was in graduate school at Yale, and then moved to Laurel in 1957.

A homemaker, Mary Ellen raised her children while also serving as the family handyman. In her 40s, she went back to college and earned a music degree from the University of Maryland; she also learned to ski in her 40s, and became an avid skier. When Charles, a long-time Boy Scout leader, survived a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on one side and speech-impaired, they both obtained amateur radio licenses--a shared pastime which also allowed Mary Ellen to keep tabs on Charles, who was often on-the-go, even after the stroke.

Mary Ellen dearly loved her family, who were gathered around her in her last days. Mourning her loss, but celebrating her life, are her children--Robert May of Columbia; Patricia Mosley of Richland, WA; Virginia Geis of Severn (husband, Russ); William May of Laurel; and Katherine May of Laurel--ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

 Charitable donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Laurel, MD; the Special Olympics of MD; or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Mary Ellen was a member of the Senior Strollers, the Laurel Amateur Radio Club, the Laurel Music Teachers Association, and the Maryland State Music Teachers Association.

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