Katrina May Obituary

Durango native Katrina Chandler May died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, from injuries suffered in a car accident near Drummond, Mont. She was three weeks shy of her 23rd birthday.

An avid outdoorswoman, she was en route to a river raft trip with her companion, former Durangoan David Crow, who also died in the accident.

Ms. May was born to Chris and Sally May on May 30, 1990, in Durango. Growing up, she loved dance and took lessons in hip-hop, ballet and tap dancing. She enjoyed taking care of at-risk kids in ages preschool through fifth grade in a program at Miller Middle School.

At Durango High School, Ms. May was involved in El Diablo, the school newspaper, and "thought the world of" adviser Barbara McLachlan, her mother said. She graduated from DHS in 2008.

Ms. May, who came from a family with generations of newspapering experience, had a scholarship to study journalism at the University of Montana in Bozeman. Her mother said she continued to work with at-risk children in Bozeman.

Ms. May graduated with honors from Montana State University Bozeman in December 2012.

"She loved life, and people flocked to her," her mother said. "She liked to help people who had it a lot rougher than she did."

Ms. May worked for a graphic arts firm, PrintingForLess.com, in Bozeman.

"She will be missed by everyone in the West who knew her," her father said. "When we see a river running, we will think of her."

Ms. May is survived by her mother, Sally Florence of Durango; father and stepmother, Chris and Claire May of Ignacio; and brother, John May of Morrison.

A memorial potluck for Ms. May and Mr. Crow will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013, at Rotary Park in Durango, behind the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4031 at 1550 Main Ave. Refreshments will be provided.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.