Donald Arthur Mahoney

Donald Arthur Mahoney
January 29, 1931 – July 12, 2009

Donald Mahoney, of Glendale, Oregon passed away Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the home of his daughter in Grants Pass, Oregon, losing his battle with skin cancer at the age of 78, his family by his side. He was born January 29, 1931, to Patrick Stanford and Gertrude Dorothy (Meyer) Mahoney in Muskegon, Michigan, and grew up in Montague and Whitehall, Michigan. His family owned and operated Mahoney Painting.

He graduated from High School in Montague, Michigan in 1949. He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Air Force for his service from 1951 to 1954 for which he also served in the Korean War and earned several service and war-time medals.

In 1955 he married Josephine C. Dahlquist of Muskegon Heights with whom he would have seven children. They moved west to Southern California, where he received his BA in Accounting from San Diego State College in 1962. In 1963 he brought the young family to “pioneer life” on a farm in Wolf Creek, Oregon. Nearby Glendale would eventually become home and the site of family businesses, including a cafe, gas station, and mobile home park.

He worked as an accountant for Oregon Public Utilities Commission in Grants Pass, for Alyeska on the Alaska Pipeline in Valdez, Alaska and Washington Public Power Supply in Richland, Washington. He loved traveling having worked in Iran, vacationing in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras, and dreamed of retiring in Costa Rica.

Josephine, his wife of 32 years passed away suddenly in November 1987. He later married Shirley Carter of Glendale, Oregon who added five grown children to the family who would also call him Dad. Shirley passed away in March 2003. In May 2005 he married Peggy Ryther of Glendale, Oregon.

In addition to his wife, Donald is survived by four siblings, Richard (Darlene) Mahoney, Dennis (Jackie) Mahoney, Patsy (Roger) Smith, of Michigan, Betsy Young of California and their families. He is also survived by his two sons; Kevin (Lisa) Mahoney of Merlin, Oregon, Konin (Sally) Mahoney of Oakland, Oregon and five daughters; Donelly (Robert) Worthington of Scappoose, Oregon, Kimberly (David) Weaver of Medford, Oregon, Kelly (Scott) Williams of Coquille, Oregon, Tamara (David) Bushnell of Grants Pass, Oregon, and Kristine (Jeremy) Caldwell of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania; also step-children and their families, Michael (Laurie) Carter of Rainier, Washington, David (Kelly) Carter of Portland, Oregon, Belva (Chris) Smith of Elmira, Oregon, and Tim (Patty) Carter of Satellite Beach, Florida, Suzanna Taylor of Winnemucca, Arizona, James Taylor of Glendale, Oregon, Jennifer Ryther of Portland, Oregon and Holly (Ben) Wilmot of Canyonville, Oregon.

He has 28 grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and a large extended family that will miss him greatly.

Donald raised a close and loving family and enjoyed spending time with them. He loved to swim and was a member of the Bethel Church of God in Eugene. He was a gracious, thoughtful and gentle man who was loved by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Glendale Baptist Church in Glendale, Oregon. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.