Jeri Lea May 

March 13, 1957 – April 10, 2026

Jeri Lea May, adored wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed peacefully in the morning hours of April 10, 2026, while holding hands with her devoted husband of 49 years, Steven Fred May. Welcoming her arrival are her dear Granny and her granddaughter, Ryan Grace.

Jeri is survived by her husband, Steven; her five children (Robert, Jeanine, Garrett, Erinn, and Cameron); and her 18 grandchildren (Gracey, Berlin, Beckham, Eliot, Benson, Georgia, Cora, Taylor, Elin, Brody, May, Harrison, Robert, Gavin, Walter, Penelope, Landry, and Rocky). Jeri loved and was loved by her children-in-law, who were treated as her own ( Andrew, Whitney, Monica, Eric, and Sara).

Jeri grew up in Grover City, California. She met Steven at age 15 when she approached him on a crowded dance floor. In her youth, she rode and showed horses and worked on a ranch. Jeri married at 20 and promptly started a family, welcoming her five children over the following 10 years. The family moved to Santa Maria in 1986, where Jeri and Steven planted roots, formed deep friendships, and raised their children. Throughout her adult life, Jeri never lost her curiosity or desire to learn and grow, routinely attending college courses and ultimately graduating from both esthetician and massage therapy schools. She enjoyed a meaningful career as a massage therapist, where her kindness and gentleness helped her excel in her work.

Jeri lived a full life. Despite difficult childhood circumstances, she built an admirable life with her husband, filled with love and laughter. Jeri always wanted a big, vibrant family and made it happen. She raised five children who never had reason to question their mother’s love or dedication to them. She and Steven worked tirelessly to give their children safe and happy childhoods, and they succeeded beyond measure. Now, her children love one another and find solace in their grief through their shared friendships and devotion to each other.

Jeri loved things that grew - trees, plants, flowers, and herbs. She also loved things that remained constant - the clear blue water of Lake Tahoe, the mountains, the beaches of her youth, and the steadiness of her husband’s love and devotion.

Jeri saw the divine in the natural world. She believed truth was best found in the mountains, and that God was best felt under the canopy of the evergreens. At age 60, she walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, searching to find in nature what she could not find in the pews of a church or at the feet of a preacher. She formed meaningful friendships with fellow pilgrims who shared her adventurous spirit. She returned year after year to enjoy the gentle, quiet divine truths found among butterflies, hummingbirds, and the tiny heart-shaped rocks she discovered along the path.

Jeri loved babies and little children. She expressed how loved and special they were, filling them with confidence and courage. She adeptly tended all wounds, physical or emotional. Her grandchildren believed “Grammy” could do anything, and she would do anything for them. She was where they went when they needed a snuggle and whom they asked when they had an important question. Her grandchildren found magic in her hugs, wisdom in her words, and nourishment in her always-delicious food.

Jeri lived her life with a tenacious spirit. She fought bravely when she was diagnosed with cancer and never lost hope. She showed her family what it means to fight, even when the odds are long and the path is hard. She never gave up. She inspired her family through her courage and steadfast hope.

Jeri made the world a better place through small, day-to-day kindnesses, simple wisdom, consistent effort, decency, and humanity. She blessed the world with warmth, a bright smile, and kind eyes. She touched lives and left a lasting mark on people, whether she had known them for decades or met them just once.

While her loved ones will miss her dearly, Jeri lives on in her children and grandchildren, in their smiles, their hearts, and the love they share. They are a living reflection of her life, her love, and her enduring legacy.