Roy J. McMahon

McMahon, Roy J.
Age 91, passed away March 7, 2015. Roy was born on January 11, 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri and was the seventh son in a family of fourteen children.  During the depression era, he grew up and assumed adult responsibilities at a very early age.  After his sister “adjusted” the birth date on his birth certificate, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at the age of 14 (although the CCC thought he was 16). While he received only a basic education, he was a very intelligent and smart man and a voracious reader (politics and cowboys were among two of his favorite topics).  Roy joined the US Army at the age of 16, using his adjusted birth certificate to convince the US Army recruiter he was of legal age.  He served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division with distinction, earning a bronze star, during the entire duration of World War II.  He made five combat jumps, including parachuting into Saint Mere Eglise, Normandy the day before the famous D-Day invasion to help prepare for the allied troops coming the next day.  Following his service in the US Army, he met and married the love of his life, Shirley (Nemecek) McMahon, who preceded him in death by about three years.  They were married sixty six years and raised a family of three children who have seven children, his grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.  He is survived by his two sons, Tom McMahon and wife Jennie, Kevin McMahon and wife Elaine and his daughter (his “angel”) Kim Cleland and husband Mike.  His seven grandchildren Stephanie West, Amanda Hunter, Brandon Babcock, Sarah Girard, Eric McMahon, Alex McMahon and Paige Cleland, as well as the five great grandchildren Dylan, Kennedy, Allison, Brady and Chloe, will all miss Grandpa Roy dearly.

Life wasn't always easy, but Roy and Shirley worked hard all the time to provide the best they could for their family that they loved.  Roy made many friends on the Navajo Reservation when, for a period of about twenty years, he sold and traded saddles, and tack in Gallup and other locations on the reservation.  As Shirley's health faded, Roy was her caregiver and never left her side for the last five years of her life. There has to be a special place in heaven reserved for him because of his care, love for and devotion to Shirley.  Roy never met a stranger and was kind and generous but he presented himself as a gruff, grouchy old man because he never wanted anyone to know he had a soft, forgiving side.  However, anyone who met him for more than a minute saw right through his facade. Roy positively affected those people he met during his life, and there are many who are better off because of him.  

A Memorial Service for Roy McMahon will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Daniels Family Funeral Services, Sara Chapel, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, to please consider making a memorial donation in Roy McMahon’s name to The Alzheimer’s Organization www.alz.org

Daniels Family Funeral Services
4310 Sara Road SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
505-892-9920