DAVID (DAVE) RONALD MAY

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DAVID (DAVE) RONALD MAY

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of David (Dave) Ronald May on August 6, 2026.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Florence May and sons, Rufus and Christopher May.

David was a hard worker all his life. He had many jobs, beginning as a security guard to help him pay tuition at the University of Winnipeg, where he studied Philosophy and made some lifetime friends. Later he got fit walking miles each day as an oiler in the train yards of the Canadian Pacific railway company.

He moved from Winnipeg to Edmonton with his wife Flo, and worked at Knudson's Pipe Dream, where he held court at the shop's counter, helping customers select pipe tobacco, pipes and cigars.

When their son Rufus was born, Dave and Flo moved back to Manitoba. Dave got work as the caretaker for an apartment block, and thus started a career in building management. He began taking courses, upgrading his skills and taking on new responsibilities for the Province of Manitoba and eventually the Federal Government, as a property and facilities manager. Dave relished this last post as being both challenging and rewarding. He retired in 2015 and began a new "career" of snowbird, spending winters in Buckeye, Arizona.

Dave's many hobbies included playing guitar, listening to music, riding his motorcycle, role-playing games (eg. Dungeons and Dragons), woodworking, and reading science fiction and fantasy novels. He loved going to the Keycon convention and built sets for the Bre-Axe Omega hospitality suite.

He could fix just about anything, including cars and home appliances. He designed and built the family home in Ile des Chenes, where the Mays lived for decades.

Dave enjoyed curling with fellow employees of the Federal Service. He progressed to skip and looked forward to Friday evening games at the Fort Garry Curling Club.

Dave was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, but this did not stop him from enjoying life and participating in activities as much as he was able. He continued looking after the yard, walking the dog, and chatting with family and friends and neighbours.

The world has lost a free spirit and gentle soul. We will miss him.

Cremation has taken place at the E J Coutu Funeral Home. There will be no formal service. Family, friends, old work mates, and acquaintances are invited to join together in an informal Celebration of Life at the TC Energy Centre in Ile des Chenes, enjoying refreshments and sharing memories, on Sunday, August 23, 2026 anytime between 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

We would like to extend our thanks to the staff at the Victoria Hospital Geriatric Rehab Unit for their dedicated care of David in his last months.

Donations to your favourite charity, in lieu of flowers, are gratefully accepted.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 15, 2026