May Chism-Braselton

May Chism-Braselton, 81, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado passed away Christmas Day December 25, 2017 after a brave struggle with acute leukemia. She was born on December 29, 1935 in Atlanta, Georgia, but found her true home in the Roaring Fork Valley near Aspen, Colorado where she lived for 40 years. May is preceded in death by her husband, John Oliver Braselton Jr. She is survived by her son, John Braselton III, his wife Nicole and three children - Gabe (Makaila), John and Julia; and her daughter May Braselton Dodds, her husband Andrew Dodds, and two children - Michael (Marta) and Drew. May was a graduate of Agnes Scott College and received her master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Georgia. Known by her many patients as Dr. May, she worked as a licensed clinical psychologist for 40 years. She dedicated her life to helping others and her indomitable spirit encouraged her patients to persist in the face of many struggles.. Prior to working as a psychologist, she taught middle and high school and worked as a high school counselor. Education was important to May and as a widow with two teenage children she ensured that both completed college. She shared that same love of learning with her grandchildren by giving them picture books as children, encouraging them to travel and asking her grandchildren to teach her about new technologies such as Alexa and Uber. May also had a passion for gardening and jewelry making. Her family will always have fond memories of her beautiful garden in Basalt, CO that overflowed with flowers and featured a small koi pond. Her many friends will treasure the lovely handmade necklaces she designed with materials sourced from all over the world. May absolutely loved Christmas and was known for having the prettiest Christmas trees adorned with ornaments collected from her travels all over the world. Her family will cherish her memory each and every year on Christmas Day. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 1:00 pm in the Red Rocks Room of the High Line Overlook building located at Wind Crest. The address is 2975 Summer Wind Lane in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in May’s memory to The Denver Hospice. Please share memories of May, and condolences for her family, by signing the guestbook below.