MAY HARMAN BARTLETT STRAUGHAN

MAY HARMAN BARTLETT STRAUGHAN

May Harman Bartlett Straughan, 98,of Wise, passed away on Friday, December 6, 2019.

She was born in Marytown, WV, the daughter of Arthur James Bartlett Sr. and Dovie Belle Bartlett. She was raised in Welch and Holden, WV. She graduated valedictorian in the Class of 1939 from Logan High School, Logan, WV. She graduated in 1943 from West Virginia University (member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority), Morgantown, WV, after having spent her first two years of college at Virginia State Teacher’s College (now Longwood University), Farmville, VA. After graduation from college, she worked in Richmond, VA before returning to West Virginia to work for Island Creek Coal Co. in Logan, WV.

In 1948 she met and married Joseph Marion Straughan, MD. They remained happily married until his death in 1997. May and Joe had three children, Frances Mason, Thomas Arthur, and Anne Bartlett.

After living in West Virginia and New York City, the Straughan family moved to Wise, VA in 1957 where Joe practiced medicine as a radiologist in partnership with Delmas Jones, MD.
May was involved in her church and community from the time the Straughans arrived in Wise. She was a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Norton, VA, where she was a choir member for over 60 years. She also served at All Saints’ as Senior Warden, Vestry member, on the Altar Guild, and as a Sunday School teacher. Both May and husband Joe were strong supporters of the establishment of the Wise County Public Library. In 1957 May was a founding member of the Town and Country Garden Club of Wise where she served as President and Flower Show Judge, among other responsibilities. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Wise County Medical Society, serving as President of the local chapter and as State President. In 1976 she was a founding member and board member of Pro Art. She was a member and chairwoman of the Town of Wise Planning Commission; member of the Wise Study Club; and a member of AAUW. She served 4 terms on the UVA Wise Foundation Board, her final term ending in 2017. She worked as a volunteer in the St. Mary’s/Mountain View Hospital gift shop for many years. She was a member of numerous bridge-playing groups and volunteered with many school and other activities in which her children participated.

In addition to her faith, family, and friends, the focus of May’s life was caring for others by working to improve the quality of life in her community. She led by example. She believed that, on the whole, more good could be done with a quiet word and helping hand than could be done with confrontation or anger. She was a lady in the most positive sense of the word. She realized that evil exists in our world. However, she did not believe that one should let negativity or violence control our lives. She was a quiet fighter who chose joy and kindness on a daily basis. May enjoyed traveling. Throughout their marriage she and Joe traveled world-wide: to Cuba, Mexico, Great Britain, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Arthur James Bartlett Jr.; and nephew, John Daniel Bartlett.

She is survived by daughter, Frances Sturdavant and husband Dennis of Wise; son, Tommy Straughan and wife Pam of Cherokee, NC; daughter, Anne Cadden and husband Stephen of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Joseph Sturdavant and wife Stephanie, Elizabeth Taylor and husband Jerry, Rachel Cadden, Steven Straughan, Straughan Cadden, and Holden Straughan; three great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and beloved friends too numerous to count.

The family would like to thank the staff and residents of The Laurels Assisted Living Facility in Norton for the loving care and friendship May received over the last several years as a resident. The ministry provided by The Laurels to this area is an invaluable one. The family is grateful to Pikeville Medical Center, Pikeville, KY, for the compassion, respect, and excellent care May received during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to support All Saints’ Episcopal Church (P.O. Box 227, Norton, VA 24273); Pro-Art (P.O. Box 179, Wise, VA 24293; website: proartva.org); or the Wise County Public Library (124 Library Road SW, Wise, VA 24293).

A memorial service will be held in the early Spring of 2020 in Wise before May’s ashes are interred with those of her husband in the Straughan family plot in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, WV.

Please visit www.sturgillfuneral.com to leave online condolences for the family.

Sturgill Funeral Home, 1621 Norton Road SW Wise, is in charge of arrangements.