Roderick (Rod) William May, Sr.
Roderick (Rod) William May, Sr. passed away on June 9, 2024, in his Leawood, KS home. He was 93 years old.
He was owner of May Milling Co. in Grandview, MO. He had been involved in the feed business since the age of 14 years old. The family has been in the grain business since 1898, making him the fourth generation.
He grew up in Grandview, MO and graduated from Grandview High School in 1948, married Norma Jean Himbury in 1951 (for 73 years) and served in the army from 1951 to 1953. He then became the manager of a May-owned feed store in Springfield, MO from 1953 to 1957.
Rod May, Sr. (far left) with employees in 1950. Photo courtesy Rod May, Jr.
Two sons were born in Springfield. Roderick William Jay, Jr. (November 27, 1954) and David Laurence May (February 20, 1956) The family moved to the Hickman Mills area of Kansas City, MO in early 1957 and Rod worked for his father, J. Russell May, Sr. at Quisenberry Mills. It was located at 85th Street and Prospect. Rod became the president of this company in 1969 until it was sold in 1989. He then worked at May Milling until 2022. He was still loading 50-lb bags into customers’ cars and trucks when he was 91 years old.
He became ill in February 2022 and lived at home until he passed.
He is survived by his wife, Norma; two sons, Roderick, Jr (Laura) and David; brother J. Russell, Jr. (Dorothy); nephew and niece Charles and Ruth; and grandsons Will, Addison and Alan.
Visitation was held June 26 at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway in Kansas City, MO.
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