Berdella MAY

MAY, MAYES, MAYS, BLANCHARD, WORTHY, DARLING, ANDERSON, LEMBKE, KLENK, TANNER, HANSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/29/2010 at 10:44:17

MASON CITY — Berdella “Bertie” May, 87, of 1531 Sixth Place S.E., died early Thursday morning (March 29, 2007) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Rolling Acres Free Methodist Church, 604 23rd St. S.W. in Mason City, with the Rev. Larry Day officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends at the time of services at the church. Inurnment will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 2, in Memorial Park Cemetery. Those wishing to extend memorials or expressions of sympathy may wish to direct them to the Berdella May Memorial Fund.

Berdella May was born in Kanawha on Dec. 17, 1919, one of five children to Charles and Viola (Mayes) May. She was educated in Forest City and has lived in Mason City most of her life. “Bertie,” as she was lovingly known by her family and friends, was a cook at several sorority houses in Ames for 12 years and also managed the restaurant at the Mason City Airport for a span of time. Known for her excellent broasted chicken, many in the area will well-remember Bertie as the owner and operator of “Bertie’s Restaurant” for 18 years, at two locations in Mason City. It was during the time of her ownership of “Bertie’s Restaurants” that she hired a young 15-year old teen, Ronda Blanchard, as a waitress. Bertie and Ronda became instant and close friends and Ronda continued to assist at the restaurants until they closed when Bertie retired in 1983. Ronda became the daughter Bertie never mothered and Ronda’s children her grandchildren. Bertie was active in the child care of Ronda’s children while Ronda worked outside of the home. Bertie was a devoted member of the Rolling Acres Free Methodist Church in Mason City and delighted in tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed by those who have shared in her life.

Survivors include Ronda and Dave Worthy of Mason City and their family, Samantha and Monty Darling, Noelle and Nashia; Eric Anderson; Ashley Worthy (Jeremy and L.J. Lembke); Megan Anderson (Patrick Klenk); Bill Worthy and Coleman Worthy and her brother, Delbert May, of New Hampton. She will also be fondly cherished by her nieces and nephews and their families, Barb Anderson; Edgar May Jr.; Jeff May; Rhonda Tanner and numerous other relatives and friends. Preceding Bertie in death are her parents, Charles and Viola May; her sister, Ethel Hansen; and her two brothers, Vic and Edgar May Sr. Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

March 31, 2007
Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa