Patricia Kathleen May

Patricia Kathleen (Sexton) May, 89 of St. Clair, passed away peacefully holding her husband's hand, August 12, 2019 at Ecumen Pathstone Living in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30a.m., Friday, August 16, 2019 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Clair. Live streaming and archived at www.as-ic.org. Visitation will be from 4-6p.m., Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Northview~North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Dr. in North Mankato with Rosary at 4:00p.m. and visitation continues one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Mankato.

Pat was born August 21, 1929 to Joseph and Myrtle (McCarthy) Sexton in Mankato. As a girl, Pat loved green apples and would ride her bike past the tree and grab them as she rode by. She first laid eyes on the love of her life at the age of only 10 or 12, but didn't know it. She admired the boy with the red hair in the dime store looking at the Big Little Books as she was usually tasked with picking one out for her older brother, Jack Sexton. Years later that boy, Gene May, happened to attend a dance in Mankato that she happened to be at and the rest is history. They married in 1951.  

They would eventually have two children, Mary Jean and Jack to whom she was a wonderful mother. They made their home for that entire time on the May family's farm in rural Mankato, southwest of St. Clair. 

Pat earned her college degree at Mankato State College and did some teaching in Butterfield in the 50s, but most notably was the High School Art teacher at St. Clair Public School in the 60s and 70s. Many former students probably still have a rug that they 'hooked' in her class or some pottery they made in the new kiln at the time. She became good friends there with a former acquaintance from Mankato State, Pat Panzram. Many good memories were made in those years and beyond. She laughed hard one time when Pat read on the road as they approached an intersection, "STOP!  A Head!"   

She loved a good snowfall or snowstorm and loved a 'snow day' like all of us kids. She could drive a "standard shift" car or pick-up truck from the time she was 11 or 12 years old. She loved going to 'the lake' and would take the kids to Duck Lake to our cousins' cabins--driving past Gene in the field as he cultivated corn and soybeans--she and the kids feeling a little sheepish but the fun memories are worth it!

In retirement, Pat and Gene would enjoy a few weeks in the south during winters--eventually having a park model in Valle Del Oro, Mesa AZ.  

Pat was in charge of the fun department, planning the now cherished August-family-road trips, parties of course, holidays--including making costumes not only for the grand kids but for herself to wear for when they came to the door; Willy Nelson, Raggedy Ann to name a couple costumes she made and wore. 

The past several years, the cruel long good-bye of dementia gradually worsened and for the last 2 1/2 years she has been at Pathstone's Memory Care unit in Mankato.  Gene drove there each and every day, except for a raging blizzard here or there, to have lunch and watch some TV with her. She had always been so attentive to his health and ultimately it was he who was the caretaker. The family wishes to thank the staff at Pathstone and Mayo Hospice for all their help and tender care.  

Pat is survived by her  husband, Gene; children, Mary Jean (Joe) Rohlfing and Jack (Lisa) May; grandchildren, Kathleen May, Stefanie (boyfriend, Brian Kley) Rohlfing,  Michelle (Chris Larson) May, Rachel (Aaron) Zurek, Colleen (Russell) Depuydt, Joe (Carly) Rohlfing, and Abigail (boyfriend, William Bailey) Rohlfing;  great- grandchildren, Oliver Depuydt, George Depuydt, Josephine Zurek, Teddy Zurek, Laurence Depuydt, Arthur Larson, Jude Rohlfing, Connor Rohlfing, and Frances May; and brother, John “Jack” Sexton. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Marguerite; brother-in-law, Charles T Peterson; sister-in-law, Peggy Sexton; and grandson, Thomas George May.