The May Family

Cory May unfortunately passed before his time. He did not have a financial plan in place for his untimely passage. His wife and children needed his income to make ends meet. Without this, they are struggling to support their cost of living. If there is anything you can give to support this family’s current situation to help cover the cost of burial for Cory as well as the times to come, any contribution is welcomed and appreciated. 1231 Craft Kitchen employs the entire family- without Cory there will be a short period before his efforts and passion is fulfilled again by someone who can fill his shoes and open the business again. Cory’s family will be without the income depended upon for basic needs. Any financial help is welcomed; these are indeed trying times for Lisa and her children as they try to navigate the financial situation they are now placed in. If you have ever met Cory, or enjoyed his wild creations, please consider donating to the family that will continue to serve the menu he created. His family will never forget his passion for food and will continue to provide the great flavors/fun conversations everyone has come to love and expect. Learned from the best- Chef Cory May!

Cory Todd May was an incredible man who was loved by many. He was creative in every aspect of his life: food, art, business, friends, and family. So many people he has touched can claim he would do anything to help solve whatever problem they had. He was a listener first, a problem solver second. Cory would be the friendly face you would meet and quickly become the fatherly figure to check up on you to ensure you were achieving your full potential. He was selfless, enduring, kind, and firm when the situation required it. Cory May was the epitome of a strong yet loving father, a loyal friend, a loving brother, and a reliable source of wisdom. He consistently modeled what strong men should be in this world: caring and considerate to those less fortunate while maintaining a realization of what life is to be a “self-made” entrepreneur. He always had a way of showing his passion for friendship through food, either through his talent for cuisine or the kindness of his heart. Cory would never turn a struggling soul away: he would do everything within his means to help an individual get back on their feet, even if it meant taking a personal loss. This doesn’t mean he placed his family second, however. Cory spent every waking moment of his life dedicated to the success of his children and wife. He proudly worked long hours at work to make his dream a reality while juggling the responsibilities he had as a father. He would wake early after a long night serving food, take his children to school, and pick them up after their day was finished to spend time with them and encourage each of his children on their personal growth. Cory was a Chef that has learned much from both corporate and classically trained kitchens, which influenced his passion for food. Cory enjoyed creating new and creative flavors for his menu and left the corporate kitchen world to explore his talents. When he started to find his passion for the menu at 1231 Craft Kitchen he lit up like a firework, and everyone around him noticed! He designed a locally sourced menu, creating an undeniable flavor that could only be enjoyed at his location. His concept was proven, but his aspirations were higher. At his time of death, Cory was in the middle of creating a new idea for a different concept that he was passionate about, which would give him the means to start a business of his own. We will never get to taste the menu that Cory had in mind for us on this new venture, which is a loss to us all. Cory put his endless energy into his food. His love, friendship, loyalty, and compassion he endlessly expressed through his ability in a kitchen. If you were having a bad day, week, month, or year, Cory could figure it out and create the perfect plate to make you feel loved. His passion was food, but his love was people. Cory worked long hours every week tirelessly toward his goals but never forgot his responsibilities as a father, a friend, and a husband. Day or night Cory was there for the people he loved most, and was always willing to be a listening ear even if he didn’t have an answer. But he always spoke his mantra: “left foot, right foot.” It’s how he lived his life, with all the hurdles he has had to overcome and was his advice to everyone. “Left foot, right foot.” Keep moving forward. Never backward; even when times were tough, it was always an encouraging mantra to tell you just to move forward, don’t let setbacks hold you down, just keep pushing. He will forever be missed, and everyone that knows him is feeling the void of his wise and sarcastic conversation. He was and always will be a mad scientist in a kitchen, a therapist on the phone, and a Father in our hearts. You are gone too soon, Cory May, and we forever miss you and think of you every time we taste a taco or hear an Irish ditty.