Clifford Lee May, 87, of Livingston, passed away on December 20, 2018. Born June 25, 1931, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was the son of the late Clifford Leon May and Ruby Lee (Harris) May.

Clifford spent the early years of his life in Birmingham and graduated from West End High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, trained as an electronics technician, and worked on aircraft radios.

While stationed at Corpus Christi Naval Station in 1954, Clifford met Gladys Jean Chatham at Second Baptist Church. They were married there on January 21, 1956, and celebrated 52 years of marriage prior to Gladys' death in 2008.

During his childhood, Clifford developed a love of nature and usually had a turtle or snake as his pet. By the time he was in high school he was an amateur herpetologist. His family physician called on him to identify snakes that had bitten patients. Clifford followed this hobby most of his life and had the pictures to prove it.

Clifford graduated from the University of Houston in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He spent 35 years in electrical engineering and attained the Professional Engineer designation. He worked for Phillips Petroleum and S.I.P. in Houston; Sam Houston Electric Co-op in Livingston, and CDI-Stubbs Overbeck in Beaumont and Corpus Christi.

After retiring in 1996, Clifford and Gladys traveled in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and widely in Texas, visiting relatives, and pursuing their shared hobby, genealogy. Between 1997 and 2004, Clifford and Gladys worked together to present more than 60 performances of "We Had the White Roster for Dinner"—a monologue developed from a journal written during 35 years by Clifford's great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Hamer Lokey Whatley. Clifford handled the lighting, sound, and staging for Gladys' monologue performances. Clifford also wrote and contributed articles to various genealogy publications.

Clifford could often be found teaching Livingston elementary school students and scouts about electricity by making mini-flashlights using film canisters. He and Gladys loved being involved in Camp Invention to help youngsters develop their creativity and problem-solving skills.

An avid and skillful photographer, Clifford took pictures of many Livingston weddings, Miss Polk County contestants, families, and local scenery. Some of his pictures were on the covers of local phone directories. For several years he took Mother's Day pictures at Central Baptist Church, where he was an active member for four decades. Clifford served his church as a deacon. He also served for a time as treasurer and handled the sound equipment for services.

Clifford was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Gladys Jean May; his brother and sister-in-law, Donald Lynn and Martha Lucretia "Lu" (Owen) May.

Clifford is survived by his sons, Keith Wayne May (Brenda) of Bowie, MD, and Michael Lee May of Livingston; his daughter, Melinda Jean May of Livingston; grandsons Cory Austin May of Melbourne, FL, and Marshall Tyler May (Sarah) of Bowie, MD; Sisters-in-Law, Linda Mason (William) of Conroe, TX, and Carolyn Parrott of Carmel, IN; nephews Justice Parrott of Vienna, VA, and David Mason of Donie, TX; and nieces Martha Lynn (May) Holden of Pensacola, FL, Anna Parrott Hall of Winchester, CA, Jessica Parrott Carlson of Carmel, IN, and April Mason Payne of Royse City, TX.

A service will be held to celebrate Clifford's life at Central Baptist Church, 503 North East Avenue, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, 2019. The family will receive visitors preceding the service from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Clifford will be buried alongside his wife at Blackjack Cemetery in Walker County, Texas.

The family has entrusted arrangements to Cochran Funeral Home, Livingston.