Evelyn O. May

Evelyn Olga Phippen May was born November 13, 1917 in Greeley township. Evelyn died on September 24, 2018 at the Friendship Home in Audubon at the age of 100 years, 10 months, 9 days.
Evelyn was born on her father Thomas Phippen's farm. Her mother Dagmar Jensen Phippen immigrated from Denmark to America as a small child.
When Evelyn was about 3 years old her family’s home burned to the ground. A new home was built but when hard times came they were forced to move into Exira and live with Evelyn’s Jensen grandparents. Evelyn attended the Exira schools. While in High School she worked part time for the superintendent. A job at the local theater resulted in her meeting her future husband Robert May. After her graduation in 1935 she continued at the theater but also worked as a secretary to the Comptroller who came to close out the First National Bank. After Bob and Evelyn married in 1938 they farmed near Casey for about a year. Then they returned again to Exira where Bob worked at various odd jobs then began at Godwin’s Manufacturing. During the war he and his family and his friends and their families moved to Lincoln, Nebraska to help build an air base. After the war Bob was a builder in the Exira and Atlantic area. Evelyn was very active in two Federated Clubs, 2 bridge clubs and was assistant librarian for a while. For a few years after Bob’s sudden death in 1964 Evelyn ran the jewelry store in Exira. When other family members moved to Colorado she followed. There she worked at the Target and The Denver stores. In 1976 she was back in Iowa and began her thirteen year stint working at the Friendship Home. Evelyn was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon.
Her loves were family and friends, animals, reading and card playing (especially bridge). She was especially proud of her contribution in procuring and renovating the community building in Exira that is now known as the Lions Building. She was the first president of the Women’s Action Group (WAG’s) that was responsible for this center.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband Bob; was her son Charles May; her son-in-law Mike Cavanaugh; her parents; all of her siblings: Florence (George) Luzader, George (Imogene) Phippen, Leonard (Grace) Phippen, Thomas Phippen;. Also preceding her are all of her husband’s siblings and spouses. Three very close friends were Adele Oldaker Petersen, Magdalene Eagen and Edna Kreamer May.
Survivors include her children: Jean Cavanaugh of Cedar Falls, Ross (Connie) May of Exira, Stephen (Alice) May of Audubon. Her sister-in-law Lois (Thomas) Phippen of Gravette, Arkansas. Evelyn has 14 grandchildren, 1 step grandchild, 25 great grandchildren, 2 step great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren, 2 step great great grandchildren and 1 step great, great, great grandchild. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis, on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira. The casket bearers will be Kyle Emery, Joseph Remsberg, Ben Swestka, Robert Swestka, Jay Remsburg, and Lindsey Swestka. The family will meet with friends Saturday morning, September 29, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa.