Frank Orlin May, Jr.

Frank Orlin May, Jr. graduated to his next estate September 4, 2026, at the age of 94, peacefully in his home. He leaves a prolific posterity and admirable legacy.

Born December 4, 1931, in Baker City, OR, to Frank Orlin May and Laura Liona Rees, the middle child, he joined siblings Anna Laura and Daniel Rees, to be followed by Nona Lynne and Richard Hugh. His childhood in Baker City, OR, was spent grading lumber at the lumberyard where his father worked, at the town bike shop his father owned, and swapping summers in Weiser, ID, helping his Chandler cousins farm. The family moved to Brigham City, where he graduated from Box Elder High School, was class secretary, and lettered in football, basketball, and track & field. He attended Weber State College on an athletic scholarship and minored in history. Then he received a mission call to serve in the Western States Mission and was in the Salt Lake Mission Home with his cousin James when the Korean War broke out. He was informed he would not be permitted to serve a mission, as only one young man per ward was allowed to serve. He was drafted into the Army and spent his time in Germany, teaching at the radio operator school. After two years in the Army, he attended Brigham Young University, earning a B.A. degree with majors in history and English. He followed that up at the University of Chicago, studying modern European history with an emphasis on the Lutheran Reformation. Years later, he returned to Brigham Young University, earning an M.A. degree in public administration.

Frank began courting Becky Jean Burnett and aimed to impress when he picked her up in his late-'60s Mercedes 190 SL convertible. Her younger brother was impressed; Becky could not have cared less. Her brother's admiration quickly waned when Frank traded the sporty Mercedes in for a practical station wagon, one of the first of many sacrifices he would make in favor of family life. They were married in 1961 at the Logan, UT, Temple and over the next decade had seven children. This was a happy time in their Brigham City home, adjacent to the local park.

In the early fall of 1973, Becky's strep infection went septic, and she was admitted to the hospital, leaving the children wanting for their Mama. Days later, she passed away at age 33. A very short time later, with a heavy heart, commuting from work in Salt Lake City to home in Brigham City, Frank rolled his car. He got out and recruited any help he could get to flip his car right side up so he could be on his way, not knowing he had broken his neck. He spent the next several months mourning his loss, away from his children, being rotated from his back to his stomach in a hospital bed, and then in a full-body cast when he was released. Neighbors and extended family couldn't imagine how he could maintain a job and raise a family under these circumstances. They made plans to split up the children to be raised in separate homes. When he and his mother, known as Grandmere by her posterity, caught wind of it, they said, "Absolutely not!" Grandmere moved in to cover the workweeks, and he covered the weekends when he was home over the next five years.

In 1977, he was introduced to Janie Marie Brocious. Upon exiting her mission, she was given a blessing that the individual she would marry had already been chosen. After their first date, it was impressed upon her that she would say yes if he asked her to marry him, despite being nineteen years his junior and despite his having seven children. When she called home to tell her parents she was engaged, her mother's simple reply was, "You can do this." They were married in the Salt Lake City, UT, Temple and had three additional children. Frank's unwavering support of Janie and loyalty to Becky was the foundation of a unified family that didn't fracture because of designations such as step- or half-siblings, but simply remained brothers and sisters of one family. He always went out of his way to visit and care for extended family and strengthen family relationships, becoming a favorite uncle, brother, nephew, and son.

Professionally, he worked several years for Thiokol, editing procedure manuals. He then spent the rest of his career with the LDS Church in the Editing Department and the Church Correlation Committee, creating lifelong friendships. While there, he held the positions of Editor, Administrative Assistant of the Curriculum Department, Church Library Committee Member, Manager of Church Editing, and Secretary of the Priesthood Executive Council. Some of the work he was most pleased with was his work on The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, the Church Handbook of Instructions, Books 1 & 2, and editing General Conference talks of the General Authorities. He was most satisfied with the friendships he made there and being in close association with the General Authorities of the Church. He held many church callings, but some of his favorites were working with the young men, serving in the bishopric of the old 6th Ward, serving as a stake missionary, and serving as a couples missionary to the Johannesburg, South Africa, Temple Mission.

Frank O. will be remembered for his suffocating bear hugs, kindness, grateful attitude, resilience, stability, commitment to covenants, relentless optimism, unwavering integrity, quick wit, and sense of humor. He will be remembered for phrases like: "Use your best judgment." "It's all part of mortality." "If you're gonna cry, I'll give you something to cry about." "Getting old isn't for wimps." And, "Just lovely," with a hint of sarcasm, when asked how he was doing. He was a man of few words. He did not need to speak his testimony; he lived it.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Becky; parents, Frank & Liona May; siblings, Anna Trunnell, Rees May, Lynne May, Rick May; and grandson, Ben May. He is survived by his wife, Janie, and ten children: Kathryn (Steven) Penrose of Centerville, UT; Margaret (Wayne) Ferrin of Irwin, ID; Colleen (Ross) Ferrin of Farmington, UT; Clifton (Jennifer) May of Duvall, WA; Elise (Michael) Anderson of Farmington, UT; Laurelin (Christopher) Sudweeks of Centerville, UT; Stuart (Leah) May of Prescott, AZ; Jared (Lisa) May of Farmington, UT; Nathan (Anna) May of Farmington, UT; and Jeannette (Eric) Jones of Fishers, IN. He is also survived by 44 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, September 10th at 11:00 a.m. at the Compton Bench Chapel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 850 N. 300 W. Farmington, Utah.  There will be a viewing September 9, 2026 at Russon Mortuary in Farmington, 1941 North Main Street, Farmington from 6:00-8:00 p.m. as well a viewing before the services at the chapel from 9:45-10:45 Thursday morning.  Interment will be at the Brigham City Cemetery. 

A You tube live stream of the services will be provided and will be available here 15 minutes prior to the start time of the service.