Virginia May

Virginia Marie May (67) of Duluth, MN passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 28, 2021. She was born to Rev Edward and Winifred May in Portland OR on May 24, 1953. Her family eventually moved to Evanston IL where she graduated from high school. She attended St Olaf College in Northfield, MN and graduated with a degree in religious studies. During college, she met the love of her life Wayne Jarvis and they were married July 19, 1975. She supported Wayne during medical school doing transcription and seamstress work in Minneapolis, MN. The couple moved to Lexington, KY where Wayne completed his residency in general surgery and they welcomed children Hannah and Helen. The family moved to Duluth, MN where Wayne started his practice in general surgery and their son Brent was born soon after.  Virginia devoted her time to child rearing and managing the household. She volunteered her time at schools, chaperoning various field trips and activities.  She was supportive, warm and nurturing to her children as well as their friends making her house a second home and an after school hang out. She was an excellent hostess and made everyone feel welcome.

As her children aged, she was able to focus energy on helping those within the community that were most in need; social justice efforts were a passion for Virginia. She drove for Meals on Wheels, stocked the food shelves at CHUM, served on the Board of Church and Society, the Board at Save Haven Women’s Shelter and other volunteer activities. She was also a chaplain both at St Mary’s Hospital and through her church. She assisted with the petition and planning for the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial.

Virginia was a life-long bird watcher and found great joy in tending to her gardens which were admired by many. She was a skilled sewer and made fantastic Halloween costumes for her children as well as beautiful dresses for her girls. She knit love and warmth into her sweaters. She enjoyed daily long walks, often with close friends. She was a world traveler and appreciated learning about other cultures and traditions. She rode a Harley Davidson which provided additional opportunity for exploration. She began a yoga practice with daily mediation and eventually was certified in Kundalini Yoga and led classes for a number of years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Winifred May and her husband Wayne Jarvis. She is survived by her children Hannah (Tom) Murphy, Helen (Matt) McKay, and Brent (Jenny) Jarvis; grandchildren Oliver and Evelyn Murphy and Murray McKay; her brothers Stephen (Sue) May, David (Debbie) May, and Lawrence (Linda) May and numerous nieces and nephews and other loving relatives and friends.

Due to the COVID pandemic a celebration of life will be planned at later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to CHUM or Safe Haven Women’s Shelter in Virginia’s name. Her life was greatly impacted by a childhood bicycle accident that led to Virginia’s early onset dementia and her family would urge helmet use for any activity that could result in traumatic brain injury.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 218-727-3555, Please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.