Paul Love May

RUPERT – Paul Love May, age 91, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 20, 2024, due to renal failure.

Paul was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Joseph Herbert May and Doris Wilding Love May. He lived in Salt Lake City for a few years until his father moved them to a farm in Rupert, Idaho, where he spent the balance of his youth.

He loved athletics and participated in basketball in high school as well as excelling as a pole vaulter. He played bass horn in the school band. He graduated from Rupert High School in 1951.

On August 8,1951, Paul and his high school sweetheart, Betty Lee Covert, eloped and were married in Pocatello, Idaho. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple in 1953. They had two children while in Idaho, Teresa and Jeff. Farming was poor for a few years so the family moved to Blackfoot, where Paul worked in a potato plant. Betty had strep throat one winter that was difficult to get rid of. She ended up with rheumatic fever which damaged her heart. They moved to the Salt Lake area where she could have better access to medical care.

Patricia was born in Salt Lake in 1961 followed by the birth of Claudia in 1964. Betty’s heart never recovered from the heart issues and she passed five weeks later.

Paul had been widowed just 2 ½ months when he was introduced to Sharon Robinson, who was also recently widowed, leaving her with three small children, Lynne, Richard and Greg. They soon married and merged their seven children. Over the next 13 years they added six more children, Grant, Michael, Andrew, Cameron, Kathryn, and Jennifer. Additionally, they opened their home to three Navajo children, Elsie, Veronica, and Troy.

Paul has been able to work at several ventures which he totally enjoyed….manufacturing, building, and owning businesses, but nothing compares to his family and church responsibilities.

Paul and Sharon traveled extensively, mostly to see family members in far flung places. Three years ago they sold their family reunion center on the Salmon River and retired back to Rupert.

Paul is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sharon May; children, Teresa (James) Strickland, Jeffery (Lorie) May, Lynne Robinson (Deceased), Richard (Rachel) Robinson, Patricia (Daniel) Young, Gregory (Holly) Robinson, Claudia (David) George, Grant (Willow) May, Michael May, Andrew (Sharon) May, Cameron (Jennifer) May, Kathryn (John) Chapman, and Jennifer (George) Dibble; 52 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren…so far.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Rupert 1st/Jackson Ward (formerly known as the Minidoka Stake Tabernacle), located at 806 G Street, in Rupert, with Bishop Rick Stimpson officiating. Burial will follow at Paul Cemetery.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th Street, in Burley, and from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Saturday, preceding the funeral, at the church.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/xvMM546DmtQ.