Marion “May” Farnsworth passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 19, 2020. May was born August 4, 1930 in Prestwick Scotland to Alexander and Margaret Guthrie. She lived in Scotland all her youth and into her twenties before a young American serviceman swept her off her feet and married her on April 9th of 1955. May met her husband to be on The Brig o’ Doon in Prestwick. Her husband Bob was on his way to a military assignment in London when his plane was unable to land due to fog. Consequently, Bob’s plane was diverted to Prestwick, Scotland. While there in Prestwick, Bob decided to do some sight-seeing and it was there he met his future wife on the famous bridge. May was always proud to become an American citizen and was equally proud of her Scottish homeland and heritage.
May was a homemaker, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She had a great capacity to love and all that knew her, loved her. With her beautiful Scottish brogue, all that heard her speak were enthralled with the beauty of her accent and immediately drawn to her. May was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in many capacities throughout her life. She was instrumental in the organization of the first LDS primary in the Philippine Islands while Bob was stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the early 1960’s. May loved her family and was always willing to go beyond in helping in any way that she could.
May was a breast cancer survivor from the mid 1990’s and was grateful to be given the time that followed.
She is survived by her children; Alex, David and Anne, Julie and Doug Shade, 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
May’s passing is a tender mercy as Bob had only passed 5 1/2 days prior. She had battled Alzheimer’s disease the last 10 years. The family is grateful for the loving care that was provided to Bob and May the last 4 years by Fairbrook Assisted Living.
Visitation will be at 8:30 am with funeral services at 9:00 am on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at the Maricopa Stake Center located at 611 N. Stewart in Mesa. Due to Covid-19, services are limited to family members. Interment will be at the Mesa City Cemetery at 10:30 am.
Bunker family mortuary handled the funeral arrangements.
Our love and prayers extend again to your family in your loss. I remember this beautiful couple sitting out on their front porch holding hands and watching the planes come in a Skye Harbor airport. The love and their dedication to each other is inspiring to me. There is price to pay for sitting on the porch some 65 years later and taking in a sunset together. Such a truly beautiful thing. I could listen to your mom all day long. A fun, vibrant couple. Much love to your family. You are carrying on to bring them honor as well. So cool!
Scott, thanks for being such a great friend to my parents. You were always there for them and demonstrated such great love towards the elderly. Yes, they would watch the planes come in and wonder and try and guess where they were coming in from. I have a beautiful picture of them sitting out front and now, imprinted in my heart forever.
I owe it all to Marion “Mommy May”… my dear mother-in-law. She blessed me with the the love of my life – her daughter and my bride Julie. She blessed all of us with good humor, grace, charity, compassion, wisdom and unconditional love. Her love of family and community… set us all on better paths. How blessed are we that could call her Mommy May. ‘Till we meet again.