Ashton Debra May, 25, of Adams, Minn., died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Ashton was born June 11, 1987, in Austin, Minn., to Mark and Rosanne (Kiefer) May. Ashton was the proud oldest sister to Maggie, Christopher, Alan and Elizabeth; goddaughter of Eddie May and Debra Lewison; and godmother to Alexis Smith and Emma Ashton Lewison.

Ashton attended Sacred Heart Elementary School in Adams and later graduated from Southland High School in 2006. While in school, Ashton excelled in academics as well as music, being an accomplished pianist and violinist. She played trumpet in the pep band. A gifted athlete in volleyball, basketball and track and field, Ashton earned all conference honors in all three sports and was a five-year state qualifier and medalist in track and field in nine events.

Interest in pursuing her track and field career led Ashton to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she excelled as a four-year member of the women’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams. There she became a 10-time All-American. Ashton holds three UWL school records, tying the indoor long jump in addition to holding records in the 4×100 and 4X200 relays. Ashton also holds the facility record in the long jump at the UWL outdoor track and field complex. Other honors and awards in track and field include being team captain, WIAC All-Conference member, 2010 WIAC Scholar Athlete of the year, Academic All-Conference and Academic All-American. Ashton graduated in 2010 with a major in elementary education with a math concentration.

Working with youth played an important part in Ashton’s life. For six summers, she worked for Austin Parks and Recreation as a coach. She also coached the Adams summer recreation program. This fall “Miss May” began her dream job as a teacher – as the new eighth grade math and social studies teacher at Holmen Middle School in Holmen, Wis., and spent two wonderful weeks with her students in the classroom. She continued her involvement in athletics by coaching the middle school volleyball team and was entering her third year as an assistant coach for UWL women’s track and field team.

In her 25 years, Ashton accomplished much. Yet her greatest joys came from spending time with her family, attending their many athletic events and being a part of the large May and Kiefer families. She rarely missed family events.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Vernon Kiefer and Bernard and Regina May; uncle, John May; and aunt, Jolene Kiefer.

Ashton is survived by her parents, Mark and Rosanne May, Adams; brothers and sisters, Maggie May, Adams, Christopher May, Adams, Alan May, Adams, Elizabeth May, Adams; grandmother, Priscilla Kiefer, Adams; many aunts, uncles and cousins; godparents, Eddie May, Stacyville, Iowa, Debra Lewison, Rose Creek, Minn.; goddaughters, Emma Ashton Lewison, Rose Creek, and Alexis Smith, Taopi, Minn.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams with Father Thomas Loomis officiating. Interment will be in St. Johns Cemetery in Johnsburg, Minn. There will be a 3 p.m. rosary service on Friday at the Adams Funeral Home where visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Visitation will also be held on Saturday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. at the funeral home. There will be no reviewal at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.