May was Summer's aunt and Ob's husband. Rylant describes her as a "big woman" (she had to "hoist" herself out of the car) who loved to garden. When she died, she was in her garden.
May was a homebody. She enjoyed being home and feared that if she left their trailer, it wouldn't be there when she returned. She suffered significant losses during her lifetime. Her family was victim of a flood when she was nine years old. Everything was washed away, and her mother and father died. May had a strong belief in "spirits from the next world" and always felt as though her parents watched over her — until she met Ob. Then they could relax and fly "off to that big church picnic in the sky."
May was reliable and dependable. She took care of Ob and Summer and was happy doing it. She provided a positive environment in which Summer flourished. May was an optimistic person, always looking for the best in people, and, in return, people showed her their best side. May allowed people the freedom to live life to the fullest and to be who they were meant to be. She was good for Ob and Summer because she always focused on their strengths, which increased their self-esteem and made them feel as though they could do whatever they set their mind to. May would have been happy to know that Ob's special whirligigs were in her garden and that Ob and Summer were now holding onto each other.
