Donald Eugene May

Oct 8, 2020 -

Jul 12, 1930

Longtime Alaska pioneer and Anchorage resident Donald Eugene May entered into our Lord's hands on Oct. 8, 2020, while under hospice care at Prestige Care and Rehabilitation Center.

A service will be held at Baxter Road Bible Church, 3600 Baxter Road in Anchorage, on Oct. 17, 2020, at 11 a.m.

Don was born in Peoria, Ill., on July 12, 1930, to Orvel and Pauline May. Shortly after his birth, the May family moved to Hutchinson, Minn., where they ran the family farm. At age 15, in 1945, Don moved to Alaska and worked on the Alaska Railroad.

When no one else was eager, Don volunteered to run the crane for the Alaska Railroad. There is where he found his love for heavy equipment. Don went on to operate the largest crane in North America.

He also worked in several mines in Alaska, including the Jonesville and Independence Mine. In 2011, Don was honored and inducted into the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame.

In 1950, Don was drafted into the Army Corp of Engineers and stationed in Whittier, Alaska. While there, Don worked on building military housing structures and one structure, the Buckner Building, still stands today and is the main housing structure in Whittier. For fun, when on leave, Don and fellow soldiers would "shoot the tube" at a time when the tunnel in and out of Whittier was the longest unfinished tunnel is the United States.

Having caught the heavy equipment bug, Don established May Contracting in 1963, which quickly became the largest underground utility contractor in Alaska. Don and his company, May Contracting, laid the framework for many parts of Anchorage as we know it today. As an Anchorage businessman he was known for his honesty and integrity, as well as helping out the competition when they were in a pinch – such was the Alaskan way.

As an involved community member, in 1981 he became President of the Utility Contractors Association and was also appointed to the Alaska Safety Advisory Council by Governor Sheffield. During his time on the council, Don assisted in the writing of legislation to require safety helmets while operating recreational vehicles.

Don was also known as a family man and had five daughters and an extended family of stepchildren. He often took his daughters with him to job sites to share his time and his love of construction with them. Don owned a 34-foot Uniflight docked in Seward, Alaska, and when not working, shared his love of fishing with his daughters. In 1980, Don married Barbara Roderick and his family was further blessed with the addition of stepchildren.

Don is survived by his wife of 40 years, Barbara May of Anchorage; and his children, Theresa Wrangham of Erie, Colo., Lisa Simons of Fairbanks, Alaska, Misty Steed of Anchorage and Kaycee Gregorich of Parker, Colo.; his stepchildren, Lynn Van Horn of Anchorage and Gary Roderick of Fairbanks; and many grandchildren, Rachel Wrangham, Deanna Ivanusa, Brandon Simons, Jordan Rinner, Tailer Hunt, Trevor Gregorich, Chanelle Sayers, Shaelee Hansen, Donny Binek, Rod Binek, Erika Merrill, Jessica Trounce, Michael Roderick and Candace Trahan. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott May; and daughters, Dawn Hansen and Anne Trahan.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Legacy Funeral Homes in Anchorage.