Obituary of Daniel Alan May

The Honorable, Awesome, Fantastic, and Hilarious Daniel Alan May of Auburn, WA died January 8, 2010 after a brave 9 year battle with kidney disease. His tired body finally had enough and he was able to return home to his Mom and Dad. Born June 5, 1951, in Spokane, to Danny and Afton May. He spent his early years in Spokane, moving with his family to Kitsap County when he was 13. He lived in Silverdale and graduated form Central Kitsap High School in 1969. Alan attended Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho and later received a bachelor degree from Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration in 1979. He received a Masters of Education degree from City University, Seattle, Washington in 1995. Alan married the love of his life and eternal companion, Jonna Sue Gilyeat, on August 3, 1971 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple where they were sealed for time and all eternity. Their family was blessed with seven children; April, Dyan, Danny, Craig, Lael, Rachel, and the caboose, Kristin. Alan and Jonna lived in many places throughout their married life. They spent time in Rexburg, Idaho; Provo, Utah; Bremerton, Washington; San Diego, California; Rocks Springs, Wyoming; Layton, Utah and finally ended up in Auburn, Washington, where they have lived for the past 16 years. Alan was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many different callings. Alan worked various jobs ranging from truck driver to Sunbeam Appliance salesman to mall manager. But he found his true calling as a Seminary and Institute teacher for the LDS Church. For the past 25 years he loved being in the classroom teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. His love of the Savior was reflected in his every action. His teaching has influenced the lives of not only his family but the thousands of students he taught over the years. Alan was a devoted husband, father and brother who was most happy when the family was gathered. Camping and hiking to Ozette, following the pioneer trail, family history trips with his grandchildren, road trips to Utah, stopping to read “histerical” markers, working on his 40+ cars he owned over the years, studying the scriptures, and just being with family were his favorite things. His quick-witted sense of humor was often the source of many laughs among all he knew. In 2001 Alan suffered kidney failure and spent the next 2 years receiving dialysis while waiting for a transplant. He received a kidney transplant in August 2003. This began a relationship with the National Kidney Foundation Transplant games which occur every 2 years. Alan participated as an athlete in 2004, 2006 and 2008 while forging new long lasting friendships with others who have also been a recipient of an organ transplant. He fought a long hard battle over the past 9 years and succumbed to cryptoccol meningitis and kidney failure. One of his favorite sayings was “fix it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. He had that same philosophy about his life, he was going to “wear out, not rust out”. Alan is survived by his wife Jonna May. Children, April (Dave) Hoeveler and children Caleb and Abigail; Dyan (Jason) Dickamore and children Erik and Gretchen; Dan (Nikki) May and children Jaxon, Alisa, Carson, Madison, Maicee, Weston; Craig (Daphne) May and children Zoe, Zane, Isabel and one on the way; Lael May; Rachel (Aaron) Smith and children Corgan, Lily, Blake, Cade; and Kristin (Mike) Sickle. Siblings Dennis May, Denise May Snow, David May, Douglas May and many other family members. He was preceded in death by his Mom and Dad, Danny and Afton May. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the National Kidney Foundation or the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund. Love you, Dad! A viewing will be held on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at Curnow Funeral Home, 1410 Main St. Sumner. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1820 F St. Auburn. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Bremerton. Please sign the online guest book at www.curnow funeralhome.com