Dorothy Grace Mcmahon

Visitation:Monday, May 7, 2007After 6:30 PM   Ohde Funeral Home, Manilla

Graveside Funeral Service Tuesday, May 8, 200711:00 AM Oak Hill Cemetery Irwin, Iowa

Rev. Keith Pals, Officiating United Methodist Church, Irwin, Iowa

 Somewhere My Love? (Laras theme from Dr. Zhivago)Recorded Music

Casketbearers: Steven McMahon, Michael McMahon, Ross Darling, Brock Darling, Sherry Dugan,Kim Terlisner

     Dorothy Grace, daughter of Thomas B. and Stella (McGee) Darling, was born February 9, 1916, on the family farm in Douglas Township, Shelby County, Iowa. She attended Irwin Public Schools and graduated valedictorian of the Class of 1933. Dorothy attended Iowa State College in Ames for a short time before returning home to help care for her father who was dying of cancer.      On December 8, 1940, Dorothy was united in marriage with Harry Raymond Hi? McMahon in Atlantic. They lived in Orient where they operated a feed and seed store. When Hi was drafted into the United States Army in 1944, Dorothy moved with her husband to Wyoming where she ran the turntable for the Union Pacific Railroad. When he was shipped out to Italy, Dorothy returned to Iowa and ended up living with her brother-in-law and his wife, Bud and Elsie McMahon, in Manning. Their first child Tom was born while Hi was overseas. Shortly thereafter, Dorothy and the baby joined Hi in Falls Church, VA, while he worked at the Pentagon. After that they traveled with him as he worked for National Tank Company.      In the summer of 1950 the family moved to Manilla so Tom could start kindergarten. Their second son Lynn arrived in 1953. Dorothy stayed at home for a time before starting to work part-time in the lunch program for the Manilla schools. In 1961 she started full time and then from 1968 to 1974 she was head cook.        After her retirement she enjoyed being at home cooking, sewing and gardening. Dorothy was an avid Iowa State University basketball and football fan. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Manilla.      After the death of her husband in 1996, Dorothy was able to remain in their home in Manilla until July of 2005 when she became a resident of the Manilla Manor. Her health had been declining for a number of years and she died on Sunday, May 6, 2007, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison at the age of 91 years, 2 months and 27 days.      Preceding her in death are her parents; husband; an infant son; and brother Wayne Darling.      She is survived by two sons Tom McMahon of Galesburg, IL and Lynn McMahon and wife Paulette of Rochester, MN; two grandsons Steven McMahon and Michael McMahon; sister Edith McKinney of the Manilla Manor; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.