Mary F. May (Mary Katherine May) May 16, 1932 – February 3, 2021 Frankfort - Mary “Cotty” Fay May, 89, of Frankfort, NY, passed away on Thursday, February 3rd, 2022, at Little Falls Hospital, surrounded by her family. Born May 16, 1932, in Ilion, NY to Elvin “Duke” Fay and Mary (Phillips) Fay. She married Calvin A. May, Jr on August 30th, 1952. She was a resident of the Mohawk Valley for the majority of her life. Mary was raised in a tight-knit family and community in Ilion, NY and started working at an early age at her Uncle Earl Phillip’s well-known restaurant in the Ilion Gorge, the Black and White. In her early years she was involved in the Girl Scouts, in her teens she became a sister of the Order of the Eastern Star Valley Chapter #82, in which she served over 70 years as a member. She married Calvin a few years after high school, when he returned home from his Army Service in Korea. In later years, she served alongside her husband in many community and volunteer programs. She moved into the senior community at Streamside Manor in Frankfort, NY, over 20 years ago and was valued and respected among the residents as a friend and neighbor. Mary focused much of her life on raising her family and caring for others, most often with her skills in cooking and crafting. She learned to knit when she was in the Girl Scouts and what started as a badge sparked a life-long love of crafting with thread, yarn, and many other mediums. She enjoyed creating for her family, friends, good causes, and countless babies throughout her life. She began cooking with her family as a young adult when her mother would work at the restaurant in the evenings, and that act of caring for her loved ones with food began a career in the kitchen. She worked at the Black and White until her marriage, then returned to the workforce when her children had grown, she worked in kitchens for a variety of institutions. She often cooked for her neighbors and friends in the apartment building. She kept recipes in her head, as well as scribbled on many scraps of paper, note pads, index cards, the backs of used envelopes, and even receipts. She was also a card shark and loved to pass the time with family and friends by playing card games of any kind, a favorite in recent years being a rummy- style 10-round game called 3-13. She was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, her brother John Fay, and son in law Jeffrey “Duff” Morey. She is survived by her children Jacqueline Morey of Fulton, NY; Kevin and wife Debbie May of Centreville, VA; Richard and wife Barbara May of Bennett, CO; Elvin “Duke” May and wife Susan of Dolgeville, NY; Christine Green and husband John of Napanoch, NY; her grandchildren Joshua May and wife Joela, David May and wife Kim, Chad Morey and wife Beth, Brandon Morey and wife Devon, Jessica Green and wife Meesh, Michael May and wife Emily, Matthew May and wife Michele, Erica Davies and husband Sam. She was a devoted and doting great grandmother to her 11 great grandchildren, Jocelyn, Jessica, Kane, Mac, Tessa, Eliana, Gage, Harmony, Colton, Jasper and Haydence. She is also survived by her sister Ernestine and husband Bob Johnson, her brothers-in-law Bob and wife MaryAnn May, and John and wife Ellen May, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 from 9-10:30 am in the Whiter- Hendrix Funeral Home, 100 Otsego St. in Ilion. An Eastern Star service will follow at 10:30 am, followed by a regular service at the Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home. Coffee and refreshments will be served immediately after services at the Masonic Temple. Masks are required at both locations. Interment will take place with her beloved husband later in the Spring in Mountain View Memorial Gardens in Little Falls. To leave condolences for Mary's family, please visit www.whiter-hendrix.com https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/145680/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwbXTiJT29QIV8wOzAB2CIgJeEAAYASAAEgLg4_D_BwE#!/donation/checkout?c_src=google&c_src2=loveshriners INTERMENT UPDATE: Spring Interment for Mary May will take place on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 11:00 AM in Mountain View Memorial Gardens in Little Falls.