Mary Esh McMahan, 93, passed away in the early morning of July 3, 2009 at Odyssey House Hospice in Decatur, GA. Mrs. McMahan was born on June 21, 1916 in Amargh Township, Pennsylvania, the youngest child of John Albert Esh and Bertha Crissman Esh. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, John Oren McMahan, Sr., her brothers, Wallace, Lee, Blaine; and sister, Myra Esh. Mrs. McMahan also leaves behind her sisters-in-law, Anna Esh (Milroy, PA) and Miriam McMahan (Knoxville, TN); daughter and son-in-law, Susan & Charles Fink (Greenville, SC); sons and daughters-in-law, Forrest E. & Elizabeth McMahan (Decatur) and John O. II & Yvonne McMahan (Woodstock, GA). Other family members include niece, Louise Esh Heidorn (Minot, ND); and nephew, David (Jane) Esh (Milroy,PA); and nephews, Curtis (Charlotte) McMahan (Dallas, TX), John Milton (Cindy) McMahan (Charlotte, NC); and nieces, Joan McMahan (Greenville, SC), and Jane (Daniel) Parker (Knoxville, TN). Mrs. McMahan’s grandchildren are Scott (Kristi) McMahan, Andy (Jill) McMahan, Emily (Richard) Williamson, Peter McMahan, Michelle Fink, Christine (Jason) Plumier, Brian Fink, and Margaret McMahan; great-granddaughters, Lily McMahan, Madison Plumier, and Macie Williamson. Mary entered the U.S Army Nursing Corps in April of 1942. She entered as a lieutenant and advanced to the rank of captain while serving in Ledo, Assam, India from 1943-1945. India is where she met her future husband, John O. McMahan, when he arrived in her ward after crashing his motorcycle. The couple moved to Atlanta in 1948, when Mac and Mary opened McMahan Shoes, one of Atlanta’s first orthopedic shoe stores. Mrs. McMahan put her exceptional math skills to good use as the company’s bookkeeper. A memorial celebration will be at Clairmont Presbyterian Church, 1944 Clairmont Road, Decatur GA (404-634-3355) Tuesday, July 7th at 11 am. Visitation will be on Monday, July 6 from 6 pm till 8 pm at A. S. Turner Funeral Home, 2773 North Decatur Road, Decatur, GA (404-292-1551).
