Carol Mays

Carol Mae Mays, 94, of St James MN, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 30, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society of St James, surrounded by family. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 25 at the First Presbyterian Church, 706 Third Ave South, St. James, MN 56081. Visitation from 10:00 – 11:00 am at the church, and a service at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James. In lieu of flowers memorials are prefered to the Heritage Village in Mountain Lake or Cancer Survivors at the Watonwan County Relay for Life in St. James. Carol was born on October 11, 1927, daughter of Arthur and Hulda (Schutz) Jaeger of Darfur MN. She attended school at Comfrey MN, until marrying Kenneth Mays on July 4, 1943. Carol lived on the same farm outside of St. James until Kenneth passed in 2010. In 2011 she moved into Homestead Apartments in St. James, where she resided until 2019. Due to deteriorating health, she moved to Prairie View, and then eventually Pleasant View in St. James. Carol and Kenneth raised five children on the farm. Carol cared for her family and helped with farming. She was a great cook and gardener. In her earlier life, she enjoyed water-skiing behind Kens boat, and square dancing. Together they enjoyed camping and fishing in Northern MN and Canada. In retirement, they traveled in their RV to Yuma, AZ, where they met many life-long friends. Carol enjoyed sewing, reading, classical music, card games and the Cancer Survivors Relay for Life. Faith was very important to Carol. She supported the Methodist Church any way she was able and volunteered by visiting members in care facilities. Carol is survived by: Son Ted (Wendy) Mays of Minnesota Lake; daughters Rita Mays (Blaine McCutchan) of Brooklyn Park; Pam Mays of Boston, MA; Dr. Kathy Mays (Herman Bergkamp) of Spain. Grandchildren: Daniel (Laura) of St. Paul, Dr. Jared (Jenny) Mays of Sioux Falls, SD, Darin Mays of Minneapolis, Kendra (John Buteyn) of Waconia, and Jamison (Mary) Warren of Fairfield, CT and 10 great grandchildren. Carol dearly loved all her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She held a special place in her heart for them. She is survived by her siblings: Dr. Arthur (Sherry) Jaeger of Plymouth, Dr. Dwight (Audrey) Jaeger of St. Cloud, and Patricia (Jaeger) Banitt (Dr. Louis Banitt) of Ames, IA and many nieces and nephews in theirs and Mays families. Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Hulda Jaeger, stepbrother Quentin Jaeger, and stepsister Gladys (Jaeger) Golz, husband Kenneth, son Gary and his wife Barb (Broughton) Mays. Visitation 1 10:00 am - 11:00 am Saturday, June 25, 2022 First Presbyterian Church, St. James 706 3rd Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 11:00 am Saturday, June 25, 2022 First Presbyterian Church, St. James 706 3rd Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Mt. Hope Cemetery, St. James S. CR 27 St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081