Verna E. May

DES MOINES – Verna E. May, 73, of Des Moines, formerly of Britt, died Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at her home in Des Moines.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Evergreen Cemetery in Britt with Pastor Anna Wolf of First Lutheran Church officiating. Cataldo Funeral Home of Britt is in charge of arrangements.

Verna Elizabeth May, the daughter of Verne and Minnie (Freerksen) May, was born August 10, 1948 in Mason City. She graduated from Britt High School in 1966 and continued her education at UNI in Cedar Falls graduating in 1970 with a BA with a major in Psychology and a minor in Journalism.

Verna enjoyed watching most sports but especially loved car racing. She was able to support two of her favorite racers as well as getting to be in the pit on several occasions. Verna was an avid amateur photographer, using her skills at weddings, family gatherings, racing events, capturing beautiful landscapes and her albums of cat pictures.

She devoted time to volunteering in politics, at a care center, and was celebrated as Volunteer of the Year in 2005 by the South Des Moines Chamber of Commerce. She was employed in a variety of settings over the years, always excelling and bringing her wit and work ethic with her. Her later employment included real estate, land development or property management work, during which she received her Real Estate License, Broker’s License, and became a Notary Public.

Verna is survived by her two sisters, Phyllis Hubler and her husband, Frederick, of Cedar Rapids and Elinor “Elly” Keniston of Arizona; as well as nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother-in-law, Ken Keniston.