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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: May, Joan (Nee Kolbeck)

Age 74

MAY, Joan (nee Kolbeck) Was born in Chewelah on April 29, 1940 to Bill and Lucy Kolbeck.

She attended St. Mary’s School through the ninth grade and then Jenkins High School from which she graduated in 1958.

During her high school years she worked in a bakery as a cashier.

It was at that time that she met and began dating her future husband, John May.

Following graduation she attended Kinman Business College and was trained to become a PBX operator.

She then worked for Spokane and Eastern Bank for about a year and had to quit when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Following this she moved to Sandpoint, ID and worked in a grocery store for her friends Dan and Kathy Klick.

On June 26, 1963 she an John got married and the following March their only son, Ron, was born at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

After their time in the Army she moved back to Chewelah and resumed her job as a wonderful housekeeper, wife, and mother.

She always loved to bowl, ski, hunt, go for car rides, and most of all, fish.

In about 1990 her MS made it impossible for her to walk and all of these favorites came to an end as she became totally paralyzed with the exception of her head, right arm, and hand.

What did not end was her cheerfulness and love of life.

Any time she was asked how she was her answer was always given with a big smile, “I’m fine.”

This even after she had developed diabetes and both breast and lung cancer.

In March of 2014 she had a stroke.

This caused problems with her right arm and her speech.

Still she remained upbeat, but frustrated.

Her will to live was unbelievable.

She died July 19,2014.

There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Mary of the Rosary Church in Chewelah at 10 AM on Saturday, July 26 with a reception to follow.