May Walker

1925 ~ 2016

May Margaret Patricia Walker passed away peacefully on January 27, 2016 at the age of 90 years.

May was born on August 5, 1925 in York, Ontario, to parents Sarah and Jenkins (John) Thomas.

May Married her first husband, Jim Walker, May 29, 1948. May and Jim adopted 4 children, Jim, Patricia, Doug and John, whom they raised together until Jim’s passing in 1967. After Jim’s passing, May moved to Calgary, Alberta, where she met and married her second husband, Henry (Hank) Gatzky, and had a son, Richard Gatzky in 1970. May divorced and moved to Lethbridge, Alberta in 1974. While working at The Lethbridge College, she met special friend, Luke Murakami who was her partner for many years until his passing in 2003.

May enjoyed camping, gardening, cooking, family entertaining, and she was always surrounded by pets. May was a strong, independent woman who provided selflessly for her children as an often single mom and raised her grandson as her own after the passing of her daughter Patty.

She was predeceased by her parents, her first husband Jim Walker, brother Bill Thomas, daughter Patricia Milligan, and partner Luke Murakami.

She is survived by her sons Jim Walker, Doug (Sarah) Walker, John Walker and Richard (Colleen) Gatzky; grandchildren Margie Kelbert, Penny Walker, Jim (Wendy) Milligan, Kyle Walker, Jessica Walker, Melissa Walker, Shawn Walker, Vanessa Hart, Sarah Walker, Andrea Walker, John Jacob (J.J) Walker, Rebekah Walker, Victoria Walker; and 8 great-grandchildren; ex-husband Hank Gatzky.

A Come & Go reception will be held from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Monday, February 1, 2016 at COUNTRY KITCHEN CATERING, 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, AB.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lethbridge and District Humane Society, 2920 16 Ave N, Lethbridge, AB T1H 5E9