May “Lilly” (Larremore) Wilson was born on May 10, 1898, in Prescott, the youngest child of nine children of Sarah Jane (Milne) and Lebbeous Thaddeus Larremore of Yeager Canyon, Yavapai County, Arizona. In later years, she went by the name of May. She attended school in McCabe and Humboldt.

On January 26, 1917, in Humboldt, she married Luther Frank Wilson, who had located several mines in the Mayer area. They made their home in Mayer where he and his brother-in-law owned and operated a billiard parlor.  In addition, Luther was a partner with Clarence Eckert in the stage line operating from Mayer to Prescott.

In the book Echoes of the Past: Tales of Old Yavapai, May told the story, with a great deal of amusement, of her first and only visit to San Francisco on her honeymoon. Frank's first love had always been pursuing any interesting leads in mining. Upon depositing his bride in a room at the Palace Hotel, he excused himself to go for a cigar. Many hours later, he presented himself to May, full of knowledge he had gained from a long conversation with a newfound friend in the mining game and spirits which they had imbibed.  He was also smoking a big, black cigar.

They were married for forty-six years and were deeply devoted to each other. Many times they spoke of returning to San Francisco for their second honeymoon, but the years went by too quickly for this dream to be fulfilled.

May and Luther had four daughters: Wyona Charvol (Mrs. Kent) Larrell, born in 1917; Mrs. Yvonne Leatrice Howington Morgan, born in 1920; Lorraine Francis (Mrs. Frank) Vallely, born in 1922; and Dama Mae Wilson, who was born in March 1930 and died later that year. May was employed by the telephone company in Humboldt, and they lived at 107 Grace Avenue. She was a Christian Scientist. Her sister, Mary Elizabeth Lange, and her sister-in-law, Stella Fowler, are also represented in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden.

May died on May 7, 1961, and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery.

Donor: Yvonne Howington, daughter
Photo Located: RGC MS-39, Box U-Z, F-Wilson, May "Lily" (Larremore)
Updated: 6/18/2015, Gretchen Hough Eastman