Prayers for the friends, family and congregation of Kyle May

Pastor Lars Hammar writes:

Open Space Church is grieving the first death of one of our members, Kyle May, 30 years old. He died mid-July in his home town of New Jersey while there to attend his brother’s funeral. What we know is that he was painting a mural on the wall of a storefront gym owned by a high school friend when police were called. After they arrived there was an incident that ended with Kyle thrown through the storefront window and bleeding to death on the sidewalk. An investigation is currently underway. 

Kyle was a traveler who traversed the country from New Jersey to Tucson and on to California, working odd jobs along the way – such as painting houses, moving furniture, setting up for the Tucson Gem Show and such. He was last in California painting houses in the suburbs and murals along the beach.

He was active in Open Space Church and regularly painted at scrap can battles and art shows, including events at San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church in Tucson. Along with that he was an active clubber, who was often paid by event coordinators to paint his psychedelic style swirls on canvasses at the raves. When people would ask about what he was doing, he would often mention Open Space Church and bring people along to art nights. 

Kyle had a joyous and free-wheeling spirit about him, and his loss has been full of grief for the community at Open Space. Your prayers are appreciated. 

Kyle at the scrap can battle at San Juan Bautista

Kyle at Pastor Lars’ house at a painting event.