MULKEYTOWN -- James William May, 77, of Holiday Shores, departed this earth Saturday, April 27, 2013. Mr. May was born in 1935 on the family farm in Montgomery County, where he attended one-room schools, graduating from Hilltop High School in 1952. He immediately matriculated to Brown's Business School in St. Louis where he graduated their programs in secretarial accounting and eventually court reporting programs. He also attended classes at Saint Louis University and SIU Edwardsville. During his career, he had appointments with Federal Judge Rubye Hulen of St. Louis, as well as Federal District Judge William Beatty of Alton. He was also an official court reporter for Third Judicial Circuit Madison County in Edwardsville. In 1969, he formed May Reporting Service, a freelance court reporting firm, doing mostly depositions and arbitrations and was still active shortly before his death. Court reporting was his love and many of his friends came from the lawyers and doctors he met during his career. In 2000, he was presented with the prestigious Liberty Bell Award by Madison County Board Association. He had also served a five-year stint on Madison County Housing Authority, ending up as chairman. Surviving are his longtime friend and companion, Judy Furlow; son, James M. May and wife, Amy; daughter, Janie M. Grunwald and husband, Scott; stepdaughters, Michelle Whittington and husband, Dennis, and Cheryl Langreder; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There will be no funeral service and he will be cremated according to his wishes. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Weber and Rodney Funeral Home in Edwardsville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BJC Hospice, One Professional Drive, Suite 180, Alton, IL, 62002. Condolences may be expressed online at www.weberfuneralhome.com. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on April 29, 2013