John Oren Mcmahan

John Oren McMahan died Thursday, January 10, 2008. Mr. McMahan, also known to many as Mac or Mr. Mac, was born on July 3, 1916 in Canton, MO, the middle son of the Rev. Jesse Forrest McMahan and Emma Palmer McMahan.  He was preceded in death by his brothers, Palmer McMahan and Milton I. McMahan.  Survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary Esh McMahan, Mr. McMahan also leaves behind his daughter and son-in-law, Susan & Charles Fink of Greenville, SC; sons and daughters-in-law, Forrest E. & Elizabeth McMahan of Decatur and John O. II & Yvonne McMahan of Woodstock, GA. Mr. McMahan's grandchildren are Scott (Kristie) McMahan, Andy (Jill) McMahan, Emily (Richard) Williamson, Peter McMahan, Michelle Fink, Christine (Jason) Plumier, Brian Fink, and Margaret McMahan; and great-granddaughters, Lily McMahan and Madison Plumier; and sisters-in-law, Miriam McMahan of Knoxville, TN and Mildred McMahan of Dallas, TX. Other family members include nephews, Curtis (Charlotte) McMahan, John Milton (Cindy) McMahan and David (Jane) Esh; and nieces, Joan McMahan, Jane (Daniel) Parker, and Louise (Gunther) Heidorn.  Mac entered the U.S Army during WWII, in 1942, as a private and advanced to the rank of captain in the Quartermaster Corps in Ledo, Assam, India from 1943-1946.  India is where he met his future wife, Pennsylvania native and army nurse Mary Esh. The couple moved to Atlanta in 1948, when Mac and Mary opened McMahan Shoes, one of Atlanta's first orthopedic shoe stores.  In addition to running his seven stores, he also traveled the state to provide orthopedic footwear in conjunction with Georgia Crippled Children Clinics, as well as Warm Springs Polio Clinic.  His love of the orthopedic footwear industry was apparent, as he would regularly lecture on the subject at Northwestern University and Ball State University.  Throughout his career, he served as president and a founder of the Prescription Footwear Association, as well as president of the Board for Certification in Pedorthics. In his later years, Mac was an avid quail hunter on his Henry County tree farm.  His farm was also the site of his large garden every summer.  He enjoyed sharing his vegetables with his many friends and family.  In the winter everyone was supplied with firewood. A beloved member of Clairmont Presbyterian church, Mr. McMahan was also a life member of the Yaarab Shriners, the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M., and Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A. A Memorial celebration will be held at 11:00 A.M.  Monday, January 14th at Clairmont Presbyterian Church, 1944 Clairmont Road, Decatur.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Azalea Village Fund, c/o Clairmont Presbyterian Church. Visitation on Sunday from 3 pm till 7 pm at A. S. Turner & Sons.