May Mundt a Biography

course, once one was married in those times, divorce was simply impossible, unacceptable and so women often lived with the fears and the beatings and the control. That was their life. That was May’s life. All May wanted to do was to create a home, have children, be loved and have a happy life. James’ hobby was woodchopping. They had few common interests. May did “harden up” for 15 years but when her last son, Jeffrey, was born and was “old enough”, in 1960, 16 years after her wedding, she summoned up the courage to take her second youngest child, Betty, (eventually) and walk out on her abusive husband. That was 63 years ago. There was so much more life to be lived, and with ‘the only educational background of milking cows and the weight of public opinion against her, May walked away from the abuse to a new life

12