Father Barry John May OAM JP Th.Dip. SSC.
Chaplain of the Btrma Thailand Railway Memorial Association
Former WA Police Chaplain
Father Barry May passed away on 20th March 2015 aged 77. A Requiem Mass was held at St George’s Cathedral, 38 St Georges Terrace, Perth at 9.00am on SATURDAY 28th March 2015 and a Private Burial was held later.
Born in Adelaide, Father Barry May was an Anglican priest who began his working career as a police officer serving in South Australia and Papua New Guinea. He was ordained in 1963 in Adelaide and began his ministry in the parish of Mount Gambier, did missionary service in P.N.G., then served in the parishes of Waikerie and Burra, in South Australia, then on to Dongara, Albany and Dalkeith in Western Australia. In 1976 he was appointed the Archdeacon of the Great Southern in W.A., before his appointment as the first full time chaplain to the Western Australian Police force in 1992.
He had previously served as an Army Reserve Chaplain from 1978 to 1992.
Fr. Barry was awarded the Centenary Medal, the Police Commissioner’s Medal of Excellence, and in 2008 the Order of Australia medal.
He retired from full-time Ministry in August 2007, and then served as a Justice of the Peace and Honorary Chaplain to three organizations.
Barry was married to Kath who pre-deceased him. They had four adult children and there were nine grand-children at the time of his death (with another due).
He was a much loved father and father-in-law of Leanne and Tony, Craig and Melita, Michael and Natalie and Tim and Kristen. Devoted Grandfather of Declan, Ciara, Aidan, Owen, Louise, Bronwyn, Josh, Ben, Cameron and Bailee.
Father Barry first travelled on the Quiet Lion Tour in 2006 and from then travelled each year until the untimely death of Kath.
On the tours he conducted the religious component of the Dawn Services at Hellfire Pass and the Wreath Laying Services at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, either alone or with a padre from the armed services or minister from Bangkok.
On a number of occasions Father Barry was quite ill but still managed to conduct the services, with the assistance of Kath.
Father Barry was elected to the Committee of the Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association where his wise counsel was highly valued. Up until his death he was active with the Association.
Father Barry John May will be sorely missed by his many friends in many fields.
Father Barry May and Kathleen. Final Concert Quiet Lion Tour 2006