Patricia Ann May, freelance writer for Arkansas Catholic for 11 years who attended St. Raphael Church in Springdale, died Sept. 2 in Harrison. She was 55.
She was born Nov. 11, 1957, in Fayetteville, the daughter of William Richard and Ann May of Harrison.
She was a 1976 graduate of Harrison High School and a 1980 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in journalism. In 1988 she earned a master's degree from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
She was a category manager and market analyst for Church and Dwight Co. She had previously worked as a market analyst in the Walmart vendor community for Procter and Gamble, Clorox Company and AC Nielsen. Before her business career, May was a journalist who served as an editor and reporter for several publications. She was a reporter for The Springdale News and the Northwest Arkansas Times in the 1980s. While she pursued her graduate studies at Northwestern, she was a reporter for American Banker in Chicago and Washington. Upon returning to Arkansas, she was a business reporter for the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and Fayetteville and The Morning News in Springdale. She was also executive editor of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal. During her years working in the Walmart vendor community, she continued freelance writing for Arkansas Catholic.
May routinely covered Catholic parish and school events in Fayetteville, Springdale and Tontitown. Her last story in Arkansas Catholic appeared in March on parenting coach Marti Genge. She took a leave of absence in the spring when she became ill.
She is survived by her parents; and two brothers, Bill May of Bentonville and Robert May of Chonburi, Thailand.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at Holt Memorial Chapel in Harrison. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 at Mary Mother of God Catholic Church in Harrison. Father Jim Fanrak will officiate. A rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. before the Mass. Burial will be in the Mary Mother of God Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Hills, 501 E. Sherman, Harrison, AR 72601.
