- Date Of Birth: April 13, 1933
- Date Of Death: December 10, 2021
- State: Arkansas
Velah Mae May, age 88, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021, at home while under the care of Hospice of the Hills. Velah was born in Boone County, AR on April 13, 1933, to Robert Lee and Mary Nancy Graves Henson. She graduated from Alpena High School in 1951 and was married to Ralph Harvey May on April 28, 1951. They were parents to two children, Beverly and Butch. She was self employed as a beautician for 60 years.
Velah was proceeded in death by her parents, Mary and Lee Henson; her husband, Ralph May; her brother, James Henson; a sister-in-law, Hazel Henson; brother and sister-in-law, Billy Joe Smith and Margaret Smith Dickens; and 5 infant brothers.
She is survived by her daughter, Beverly (Richard) Unwer of Huntsville, her son, Butch (Karen) May of Harrison; 4 grandchildren, Sarah (Todd) Dennis of Fayetteville, AR; Jonathan (Becky) Unwer of Paso Robles, CA; Kara (Tate) Morris and Josh (Amber) Thompson of Harrison; 6 great grandchildren, Emmie, Reed, and Carter Dennis, Allie Morris, and Ava and Ruby Thompson; two brothers, Darrell (Jorene) Henson and Bill Henson; as well as many nieces and nephews and friends. She is also survived by some very special friends, Joyce Turney, Donna Blake, Pat Williamson, Faye McKee and the sewing crew at McKee Sewing Center in Green Forest.
Velah had many talents and was never idle. She was an avid gardener and was known for her cooking, especially her homemade bread, cakes, pies, and cinnamon rolls. She mastered every arts and craft project that was popular at the time, some of which included ceramics, stain glass, painting, knitting, and crocheting. Her latest passion was for machine embroidery and making quilts.
