from The Oregonian
Hannah Gage Haselton May passed gently Feb. 2, 2015, from her 103-year-old body. Prior to entering hospice care two weeks ago, Hannah led a weekly writing group at Terwilliger Plaza, where she resided since 1999, and was engaged in many other activities over the years. She was also an active participant in a Women's Spirit Circle that met monthly for more than 20 years.
On the occasion of their 100th birthday in 2011, she and her twin sister, Elizabeth Webb, were featured in an Oregonian article in which Hannah credited their long lives to the "salubrious air" of their childhood home near Underwood, Wash.
She and Elizabeth attended Willamette University during the Depression and later, Hannah completed her B.A. from Portland State University. She married Clarence B. May in 1939, and they became the proud parents of Dora R. Reader of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Cynthia M. Gage of Portland. Hannah was honored to be the grandmother of Lynn Corliss-Burnham and Whitney Passino, and the delighted great-grandmother of Joshua Passino and John Burnham.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Amedee; sister, Elizabeth; and husband, "CB." In addition to her daughters, Hannah is survived by her nieces, Elizabeth McMullen and Dorothy Herbst of Portland, Margie Tucker of Harrington, Del., and Janice Payne of Haley, Idaho and their respective spouses; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
An environmental activist long before that title existed, Hannah was a Hoyt Arboretum guide, acquainting elementary school groups with the wonders of nature. She was a steadfast member of the Friends of the Columbia Gorge.
Following the death of her husband, Hannah joined the Mazamas (Hannah joined the Mazamas in 1964 and had achieved her 50-year membership in 2014). She took great pride and joy in climbing Mt. Hood and hiked extensively throughout the Northwest. After her retirement from Portland Public Schools, where she served for 27 years as a secretary to the Social Work Department, Hannah and her brother, Amedee, built a retreat cabin by hand in Ocean Park, Wash.
Hannah's love and reverence for the Earth may have only been exceeded by her love of life itself. While she embraced a number of religious affiliations throughout her lifetime, she was most actively involved in the Methodist faith, where she was instrumental in bringing innovative programs to the United Methodist Women at Rose City Park. Hannah May touched uncountable lives in immeasurable ways and she will be truly missed.
A celebration of her life is planned for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Terwilliger Plaza. A family-only interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. Rather than flowers, memorial contributions will be welcomed by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge.
http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?n=hannah-gage-haselton-may&pid=174106959&eid=sp_shareobit#sthash.poSr1XpA.dpuf
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