Jean M. May, 87, of Hazlet, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday morning, May 19, at Tower Lodge Care Facility in Wall. She was born Jean Marion Merritt on January 16, 1929, in Jersey City, where she lived for part of her life. Jean went to Mills College in New York City and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. On June 28, 1952, Jean and her beloved husband, Paul May, were married and began their lives together. In 1957, they settled in Hazlet. While living in Hazlet, Jean was a substitute school teacher for the Hazlet school district and a homemaker; but her true love was volunteering. Her first volunteer job was for the Girl Scouts and then the Boy Scouts of America, where Jean was the lead trainer for the Monmouth Council for 30 plus years, receiving their highest award the “Silver Beaver.”
She was predeceased by her father, Benjamin F. Merritt, mother, Jessie McOwen, and brother, John Merritt. Jean is survived by her devoted husband, Paul May of Hazlet, her loving children, William May and his wife, Missy Hermann, of Milltown, Kenneth May and his wife, Laura, of Hazlet, and Donna Thorn and her husband, Douglas, of Farmingdale, along with her dear sister, Helen Collier of Needham, Massachusetts, and sister- in-law, Betty Merritt of Newport Beach, California. Jean was also the grandmother to six: Jennifer, Paul, Jessica, Benjamin, Patricia and Douglas, and a great-grandmother to Alvin Wesselman. She will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.
Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services were in charge of arrangements. In respect of Jean’s wishes, she will be privately cremated. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s memory to the Boy Scouts of America, aplacetogive.scouting.org, or to the Parkinson’s Foundation, parkinsonfoundation.org, would be greatly appreciated.
For information, directions or to send condolences to the family, please visit, www.shorepointfh.com.
