Kathleen Laurangel Cecilia (Kiki) May Obituary
Kathleen Laurangel Cecilia Howells (Kiki) May passed in this life January 23, 2022, aged 80 years. She was born November 22, 1941 at the Holy Cross hospital in Calgary minutes after her twin sister Mimi to William Crompton Howells and Georgianna Laurangel Annette (Jean) (Doherty). Kiki grew up in Calgary with her six siblings playing in the Shaganappi coulee before Crowchild was constructed. She met and married Thomas H. May while working for Air Canada as a flight attendant and moved to Oklahoma to raise her three sons. The family moved to Santa Fe, NM, for Tom to launch the famous Inn of Loretto and work for Warner Bros. film, The Cowboys. She and Tom moved the family back to Miami, Oklahoma where she finished her GED and her BA at the University of Oklahoma. After the boys were in College, she moved back to Calgary and worked through retirement for London Life then as a flight attendant for West Jet until full retirement. She was able to visit her sons, leave impacting memories with her grandchildren, and spend wonderful vacations in Mexico with her family. She was a great mother.
Kiki was proud of her Métis heritage and spearheaded family efforts toward official Métis status. She donated items to the Peace River Museum, after which a popular family display was created. Her Catholic faith was very important to Kiki and daily prayer was a constant in her life.
Kiki was preceded in passing by her father, William Crompton Howells; her mother, Georgianna Laurangel Annette (Jean) (Doherty); sisters, Miriam Jean (Mimi) Jans, and Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Swanson; as well as her son Timothy Doherty May. Those left to cherish her memories include: sons, Anthony Howells May of New Castle, CO, his wife Chandelle and daughter Ellie; Russell Haller May of Orlando, FL, and his son Bryson; Tim's sons of Santa Cruz, CA, Harrison and Thomas; brothers, Bill, David, Chris, and Jim Howells. She is also survived by a host of loving extended family and friends.
A Celebration of Life (Memorial Mass) will take place on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 10:00 am with a video of the service available below for those unable to attend in person.
