Nancy C. May, 77, of Kresgeville and The Village at Palmerton, Palmerton, passed away following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease on February 9,, 2021.
Nancy was the loving and devoted wife of the late Orville W. May, who passed away on August 18, 2011.
She was born in Graverville (Lehighton) on February 18, 1943, the daughter of the late Kenneth E. Esrang, Sr. and Martha A. (Heiser) Esrang.
Nancy was a 1960 graduate of Lehighton Area High School in Lehighton. In the spring of her 8th grade year, she was crowned “May Queen” of her school’s dance. Nancy’s helpful nature began with her first job as a ticket girl for Bright’s Department Store in Lehighton.
Her community spirit and desire to help others solidified when, in 1968, following her husband’s retirement from the U.S. Army, she and Orville settled in the Ken-Mar Acres development near Kresgeville. Nancy wasted no time getting involved in the community, becoming a charter member and first corresponding secretary of the Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. Over the years, she held various leadership positions and officer posts within this organization.
Around the same time, Nancy became interested in local politics, serving as an office clerk and then recording secretary for the Polk Township planning commission. In the mid-1970’s, Nancy began a 13-year tenure as Polk Township’s occupational tax assessor. In 1989, she was elected Polk Township’s first female supervisor, a position she held for 27 years. During her tenure as a township supervisor, Nancy served as the township secretary and treasurer and was instrumental in the establishment of the Polk Township Historical Society. She also served on various committees affiliated with the Veterans Memorial Commission, the Pocono Council of Governments and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Officials. Nancy was also an active member of the West End Republican Club and served as a committeewoman for many years in Polk Township. In March 2016, as part of Monroe County’s Women’s History Month, Nancy received special recognition as the “woman who served the longest term as a township supervisor in Monroe County.” In the following months, she received an appreciation award from the Polk Township Volunteer Fire Company, special acknowledgment for her 20 years of unfailing dedication to honoring the veterans of Polk Township and the preservation of the township’s Veterans Memorial, as well as commendations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Senate of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors for her nearly 40 years of tireless devotion to public service.
Nancy was of the protestant faith and a former active member of the Choir and on the Board of Trustees of the Middlecreek Christian Church in Polk Township. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 927 in Gilbert, and a proud Pleasant Valley High School band parent, an assistant Girl Scout leader and cookie mom, and devout field hockey fan when her daughters were in school. Nancy was also very proud of her grandsons' racing, and granddaughter's academic and musical, achievements.
We have been blessed with the presence of Nancy in our lives and she will be deeply missed by her loving daughters, Kimberly Karpinski and her husband, Joseph, and Sara May-Silfee and her husband, Russell (Jimmy), all of Saylorsburg. She was a fun-loving and gentle Nana to her three grandchildren, Austin and Jared Silfee and Karissa Karpinski, one step grandchild, Tyler Silfee and his fiancée, Autumn Schreier, and one step great-grandchild, Bentley Silfee. Nancy is also survived by a brother, Kenneth Esrang, Jr. and his wife, Georgine, of Lehighton, a sister-in-law, Marie (May) Rhodes, of Lehighton, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, Nancy was preceded in death by a sister, Carol.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 17 at 12:00 PM at the William H. Kresge Funeral Home, Inc.,1763 Route 209, Brodheadsville, with the Rev. Paul J. Miller officiating. Viewing will be held on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Nancy will be buried at the Lehighton Cemetery in Lehighton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made, In Loving Memory of Nancy C. May, to the Valor Clinic Foundation, PO Box 315, Brodheadsville PA 18322, or to the Ascend Hospice, 108 Cowpath Road, Ste. 3 & 4, Lansdale PA 19446.
www.kresgefuneralhome.com