May was raised on a farm in Meigs County, Ohio. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Longacre, West Virginia, and attended Oakland School. She and her daughter, Betty Jo Vargo, joined with Harry Rucker and his two children, Martin and Patty, to become a family on (Date of their marriage)
Harry and May were blessed with many friends with whom they would have frequent fish fry parties at their home in Glen Ferris, WV. They were also blessed to be able to travel extensively. Harry and Maysel both worked until late into their lives, May worked at the City National Bank in Montgomery, WV for many years until she retired.