I just have to say - Paul May made the best Scotch Sours!

~ Janis Keeney - March 10, 2022

Grandpa May - thanks for all the time you spent with us growing up. It’s tough to add to all the memories that have already been posted, but I was surprised not to see more mention of the fact that you always had a new joke to tell. I remember my brothers and I being particularly pleased with the one involving the nun confessing to urinating in the holy water. I’ll always remember the way you would lean in and lower your voice for the punch line if it was slightly scandalous and then laugh along with us as if you were hearing it for the first time too.
Last time I saw you, you said that you would be feeling much better the next time we see you. I guess you were right - but we will all miss you until then.

~ Matt Keeley - January 30, 2022

My earliest memories of Grandpa May were always vaguely food tinted. I think this is because we exclusively ate PB&Js for lunch my entire childhood and Grandpa and Grandma always brought lunch when they came to visit. There was the Era of McDonalds deep in the foggy past until at some point in my early childhood our family hit a critical mass (I think 9 mouths to feed or so) and the logistics of McDonalds became exponentially more complex; lunches transitioned to build-it-yourself deli sandwiches with chips and soda. The control we as children were given on our personal deli meat and soda dosage far outweighed losing the novelty of McDonalds fancy fries and prefabricated sandwiches. An all-round win for the team.

Throughout this period in my life, Grandpa started grooming my siblings and I to become enthusiastic partners in a favorite card game of his – Hearts. This was a 5+ year process and it started with simple games like War, Egyptian War, Uno, etc that helped develop our competitive drive. As we got older and more nuanced he transitioned us to betting games like 5 Card Draw and 7 Card Stud. We began developing our ability to take calculated risks, bluff each other, engage in increasingly complex table talk, and I especially began developing the mental fortitude to lose a game gracefully without a complete loss of my poise and personal dignity – this was a significant breakthrough for me at the time. I think I was 8 or 9 years old when our training was deemed complete; we were finally ready. He introduced us first to Spades and finally Hearts.

I have many fond memories of Grandpa May in many different situations; as I think back on it though, most of the time I spent engaging with him was sitting around a table playing a game of Hearts with 2-3 of my other siblings. We would spend entire afternoons playing multiple rounds of Hearts every time our grandparents visited, and it never got old. He was an expert at luring us to Shoot the Moon and would stymie it at the last minute by doing something completely unpredictable. He taught us how to sit around a table together and have a blast engaging each other’s minds in a battle of wits and personalities – in the end, the game was just a prop for the interactions we had. I won’t be forming any new memories of Grandpa now but that’s the only thing I miss. Every time I sit down to play a game of Hearts with family, he will always be present with us as large as life, influencing our strategy, coloring our conversation, and most of all bonding us together in a spirit of love and camaraderie. Thanks Grandpa!

~ Nathan Keeley - January 27, 2022

Grandpa May was a wonderfully kind man to have as a “Grandpa in-law” these past 15 years. I enjoyed my visits with Matt to see him and Ruth at their apt in Central Square… we would enjoy drinks and snacks and tell them about young married life while they glided back and forth with patient ears and big smiles. His jokes made me feel at ease and lightened my heart. There was just something special about the way he would tell them that can not be easily duplicated. I will never forget the one about the florist mix-up… Lol. My husband always looked forward to a round of cards with Grandpa. We will miss the love and warm hugs and holiday visits especially. Will think of him often as his name lives on in husband Matthew Clifton and son Clifton John.

~ Becky Keeley - January 12, 2022

To Paul and Ruth’s family: I’m so sorry to read of Paul’s passing. I worked for years with both Paul and Ruth at MMB in Watertown! Ruth taught me almost everything I knew about banking and Paul, May God rest his soul, kept me in stitches with his many jokes. I cared dearly for both. RIP both Paul and Ruth! You two were wonderful friends for years.

~ James Fisher - January 11, 2022

I worked with Paul and Ruth at MMB in the early 80’s and have never forgotten their kindness. They were quite a team and highly respected. Sending my sincerest condolences to their daughters.

~ Joan (FKA Colligan) Gleason - January 11, 2022

So sorry to learn of Paul's passing. I have nothing but wonderful memories working for him when he was Head Teller at Marine in Watertown. Both your parents were patient and kind to me. Miss the good days..God bless your families.

~ Eileen Ditch - January 10, 2022

Grandpa May was a wonderful person. I got to spend several years with him when Walter and I would visit from out of town. Grandpa was always rattling off the best jokes and I fondly remember some formidable games of hearts. I was so glad I got to see him and even though we had to talk a little louder in recent years, it was truly a blessing. Sending all my love,

~ Lauren Keeley - January 10, 2022

i have a lot of memories of uncle Paul oh yes he like a good joke. love coming down to grandma and grandpa Montague for Sunday dinner. IT did not matter what was cook . he enjoy it . i will miss him. but he is in better place with aunt Ruth , the day they got married was lot of fun too . i am sure that aunt Ruth and grandma Montague made the gowns . GOD BLESS take care nancy and sally love u always helen ruth

~ HELEN Breezee - January 9, 2022

Grandpa May was the best grandpa in the world. He cared deeply for each of his MANY grandchildren, and showed it. When I was younger, my mom taught me to play the piano and I had to practice every day. Every time Grandpa and Grandma came over to
visit, Grandpa would ask me to play him a tune on the piano. He'd pull up a chair and listen intently to my (extremely amateur) playing before telling me it sounded good and
remarking that I was "coming along." He'd ask me questions about the music and about how much practicing I was doing. When you're one of eleven kids, having a grandparent sit down and give you that undivided attention was priceless!

Grandpa had a very kind and humble personality, along with a great sense of humor. He was endlessly concerned with others rather than himself. In his later years, I would visit him and ask him how he was feeling, and regardless of what was going on with his health - whether he had a broken bone or pneumonia - he always answered, "Oh, I'm doing pretty good for an old-timer." He'd deliver this line the same way he delivered the punch lines to his endless arsenal of jokes, a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of his age and declining health, before asking me questions about my job, how my kids were doing, or what my husband was up to. He never let the focus of our conversation linger on him for long, unless I specifically dug in and asked him to tell me things about his
time in the military or about what it was like raising my mom and aunt.

Grandpa, I will miss you so much. Thank you for being you, and for giving so much of yourself to me, my siblings, my cousins, and my daughter. I know it wasn't easy to remember all our birthdays (I know Grandma helped with this!), to make the drive down
from Watertown or Central Square to see us, to remember who all sixteen of us were - but you did it! I'm so glad you did! Thank you for giving us the chance to know you and to have you in our lives. I love you, you matter so much to me, and I will miss you.

~ Keziah Bush - January 9, 2022

I know I met both of your parents many years ago, when they would come to church. I either didn’t know or had forgotten he was a WWII veteran. May many fond memories bring smiles and some comfort. Elly

~ Eleanor Pearlman - January 9, 2022

My sincere condolences. Mr May was a true gentleman. i enjoyed talking and laughing with him. He was a great man. he was extremely proud of his daughters and grandchildren. Mr May will be in my heart forever. kathy






from the dental office.

~ kathleen hepfner - January 8, 2022

Dear Nancy, Sally and Sharon. Paul was always a good natured person, always with a small and a joke. I never saw him out of sorts at all. I remember the Masons memorial that he said by heart at Fred's funeral. He was a very smart man, a beautiful person.

~ Phyllis Putnam - January 8, 2022

Dear Walter, Lauren & the
Keeley/May family;

Our deepest sympathy, condolences and prayers go out to you during this most difficult time. May he Rest In Peace under the warm blanket and comfort of God’s love.

Sincerely,
Sue & Fred Feierstein

~ Susan & Fred Feierstein - January 7, 2022

Grandpa May - I'll always remember the long walks across Watertown that we would take. We'd go up to the playground at Thompson Park and my bothers and I would play all afternoon while you waited patiently for us to run our energy out. Sometimes we would walk downtown, or even all the way across town to Aunt Pauline's house, which was quite a hike. When the weather was bad, we'd go to the Salmon Run Mall and we'd watch the billiard balls roll through the kinetic sculpture in the middle of the mall for hours.

We spent countless hours playing hearts and you taught me all of the best strategies: how to pass another player a low heart to keep them from trying to shoot the moon, when it was a good time to stick someone with the queen of spades, and that it was sometimes a good idea to "get sporty" and take a point or two. And you showed me that sometimes, the cards just aren't in your favor and you just have to grin and bear it as you "get wizzin'".

Your sense of humor and graciousness was ever present. When given a choice at the dinner table between different desserts you'd always say "I'll have whatever you've got the most of". You gamely plowed through a plate of overcooked spaghetti that cooked for an hour instead of 10 minutes and insisted that the glue-like pasta was "pretty good" so as not to hurt the feelings of the chef.

You are a good husband, a great father, and a doting grandfather and great grandfather. I hope to be able to live up to the standard you set. We'll miss you.

~ Walter Keeley - January 7, 2022

I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Paul's family at this time. May he rest in peace.

~ Parul Patel - January 7, 2022