Patricia Ann May, who was part of the Northwest Arkansas cast and crew in 1984 and 1985, died on September 2, 2013, in Harrison. She was 55.
She was born November 11, 1957, in Fayetteville, the daughter of William Richard and Ann May. Patricia was a 1976 graduate of Harrison High School and a 1980 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. In 1988 she earned a Master of Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Patricia worked as an editor and reporter for several publications in Northwest Arkansas. She was a reporter for The Springdale News and the Northwest Arkansas Times in the 1980s.
While she pursued her graduate studies at Northwestern, she was a reporter for American Banker in Chicago and Washington. Upon returning to Arkansas, she was a business reporter for the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and Fayetteville and The Morning News in Springdale. She was also executive editor of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal.
After leaving journalism she worked as a market analyst for Procter and Gamble, Clorox Company, and AC Nielsen as well as in the Walmart vendor and eventually as a category manager and market analyst for Church and Dwight Co. She continued freelance writing for the Arkansas Catholic.
Throughout her various positions in these companies, Patricia was a friend and encourager to many people. She was a member of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Springdale.
Preceding her in death were her grandparents, William Smyth and Delcie May and Hattie Davis May, and Pascquale and Mary Agresti; uncles Ralph May and Billy Joe Smith; and a cousin, Chris Smith.
Survivors included her parents of Harrison; two brothers, Bill May of Bentonville and Robert May of Chonburi, Thailand; three nephews, Michael, Ryan and Smyth May; three nieces, Elizabeth May, Chloe May and Lillian May; two aunts, Marie Agresti and Margaret Dickens; and many cousins, friends, and work colleagues.
She is buried in the Mary Mother of God Catholic Cemetery at Harrison. Pallbearers are Michael May, Ryan May, Smyth May, Ryan Smith, Joe Smith, and Joe Koenig.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Hills, 501 E. Sherman, Harrison, AR 72601.
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