Kori May Memorial Endowment Fund

The Kori May Memorial Endowment Fund

Funds will be used to support scholarships for dedicated students in need of financial aid studying Botany or Plant Pathology. Contributions in memory of Kori can be made to the Kori May Memorial Endowment Fund at the OSU Foundation.


Kori May

Just 24 years young, Kori Elise May left this world on Earth Day, April 22, 2015, leaving a legacy of kindness and joy. 

Kori MayKnown for her amazing artistic ability, Kori loved to draw, sew, crochet and play the violin. Friends and family will cherish her spontaneous doodles and elaborate charcoal sketches. Kori would send cards and letters full of drawings just because she was thinking of someone and wanted to make them smile. 

Kori volunteered at the Humane Society in Corvallis, Oregon, when ever she could. She found the greatest pleasure in making sure the dogs were walked and had fresh air. Unpopular tasks, such as cleaning kennels and doing laundry made her happy because she knew taking the extra effort and time would keep the animals as comfortable as possible. 

Her selfless nature always extended to others less fortunate. She would give her last five dollars to a homeless person just because they looked hungry, even though she may not have much food for herself. 

Kori’s love of animals led her to become a devout vegan. She took pride in her lifestyle and teaching others how to make delicious vegan meals. Kori never judged anyone for his or her food choices; she believed everyone should be able to make their own decision without judgment. 

Kori spread joy through her love of Mother Nature. She gave up her spring breaks to help clean up the beach. She participated in a “butterfly planting” project designed to create more habitat for the endangered Fender’s Blue Butterfly. Kori embraced urban farming projects and enjoyed teaching others how to grow their own food. 

Plants flourished under her green thumb and covered nearly every surface in her home. She was a walking helpdesk for anyone with plant questions. Plants were her passion and inspiration to major in Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University. She launched her career as a plant science intern at Walt Disney World and continued living her dream in her first professional job as a horticulture field representative for Royalty Administration International. 

Kori’s work ethic was beyond measure. She was happy to have a job and to work hard, no matter the task. From making sandwiches to moving chairs, Kori always took pride in her work. No task was beneath her, and she worked very hard to earn what she had. 

She will be missed for her wonderfully sarcastic personality, her quick wit, and overly generous gestures. Kori taught those that knew her to care for others, to be selfless, genuine and kind, to stay true to yourself and above all else to respect life.  

Born November 25, 1990 in Phoenix, Arizona, Kori graduated with honors from Pleasant Grove High School, in Pleasant Grove, Utah, in 2009 and attended Oregon State University where she earned a B.S. degree in Botany and Plant Pathology with a minor in Horticulture in 2013. Kori received several scholarships including the Merrill Family Foundation Scholarship in May 2012, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement as an undergraduate in the Colleges of Science/Agricultural Sciences. 

She is survived by her parents, Keith May (Roy, Utah) and Carrie Parrish (Bowie, Arizona), a loving fiancé Chad Brimley (Corvallis, Oregon), her brothers Dylan May (Roy, Utah) and Alex Parrish (Bowie, Arizona), her grandparents Rich and Joanna Hall (Bowie, Arizona), Nana Hope Sanchez, her Aunt/Uncle Teri and Brian Ditsch (Oro Valley, Arizona), Uncle/Aunt Richard “Bubba” and Kim Hall (Sheridan, Wyoming), Uncle Lance May, and cousins Rich and Lindsey Hall (Sheridan, Wyoming). She is predeceased by her Grandfather Charles May, Grandmother Nancy May, Aunt Teresa Flynn, and Uncle Alan Permenter.