Michael James Mcmahon

Michael James McMahon

In a catastrophic turn of events on Sunday, June 30th, 2024 Mike McMahon’s heart, full to the brim and then some, was sent home to his Heavenly Father.  Born June 13, Mike was a king among men; a light in the darkest parts of this world to everyone who met him.  He was a “jack of all trades” and an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word.  Over the course of his life that was far too brief, he raised race horses, was a commercial chicken farmer, bought the family Christmas evergreen business and grew it to new levels no one imagined.  In recent years, he managed and developed real property in Pierce County and studied and dabbled in the stock market.  In addition to all these skills Mike could back a trailer around anything and into any place with precision that seemed to deify human ability.

Mike spent his early years learning carpentry, farming, timber management, the science behind raising quality Christmas trees, how to procure high end noble boughs, and how to operate heavy equipment.  He learned these skills from his parents, Jack and Judy McMahon, life-long residents of Pierce County

Mike’s sister Jacqueline, joined the family when he was five years old.  Given the age gap between them, Mike would sometimes grow frustrated with his “little sister” and would remove the 2x4 blocking entry of Jacque’s baby walker into the sunken living room of the family home causing her to tumble over.  Many years later Mike got a lesson on the need to acclimate to inclement weather when Jacque got her revenge by locking him outside barefoot in 10” of snow. There were additional antics that may not have been appreciated at the time, are now remembered fondly and have ended far too soon.

Mike was a great conversationalist.  He enjoyed a good joke or sharing words of wisdom or words of love and encouragement.  Mike enjoyed teasing his parents about their basement full of trinkets, tools and memories of epic proportion.  The irony being that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  Mike’s basement could easily win the cluttered basement award which is littered with more cans of Spam than one person could ever need, totes of Christmas decorations, miscellaneous odds and ends and  whiskey for the long winter nights. His jokes and stories are legendary and will be remembered by those of you who had the good fortune to know Mike.  The family has received an outpouring of love from the community since his passing with people sharing antidotes not previously known.  One such story is when Mike served as the DD for a group of men who were driving his bulldozer in various states of sobriety.  Another from a friend who said: “Your father did more for me than anyone else in my life ever has.  If I had a problem, a story to share or something to celebrate, I would call Mike and he always had time for me.”

Mike’s magnanimous personality, love and legacy will be carried on by his only (and favorite), daughter Meredith, and his son-in-law Jesse who he left with knowledge of how to change a breaker without first turning off the electrical panel.  Fortunately, Mike left this earthly world with the knowledge that Jesse deeply loves his wild and whimsical daughter and is more than qualified to care for her in his absence.

Mike is also survived by the love of his life, and fiance, and confidant, Barb Williams. Barb is the woman who, in the words of his daughter, “turned it all around for Mike”.  To describe their love as filled with joy, laughter, adoration and adventure is an understatement.  They shared a deep connection and an easiness that was, in a word, exceptional.  Barb, her three sons, grandchildren and her vast group of friends were a breath of fresh air for which Mike expressed daily gratitude.

Mike’s knowledge of nature, plants, all things mechanical, and his zest for life and community followed him from youth throughout his life.  These traits and sources of knowledge were at least in part, instilled by his parents and are clearly evident in the vivacious personality and accomplishments of his mother, Judy.  Mike rarely went a day without connecting with his mother.  After the death of his father Jack in 2018 (who was married just shy of 61 years to Judy), Mike filled his father’s shoes by becoming her “rock” and staunch protector.

His sister will no doubt carry on Mike’s protective qualities, his quick wit, fierce protection of their mother and unconditional love of family and friends.  His brother-in-law Jack Ehlen, will be left to carry on family traditions which include carving the Thanksgiving turkey, leading the family in prayer before meals and hiding Easter eggs with such precision that the last one will be located five years after being hidden. His nieces, Cierra and McKinsey , no doubt will continue his legacy of practical jokes, thoughtful gifts, artistic expression and his unique emphasis of unconditional love for family.

Mike has also left behind a group of great friends and his rangale of 20 deer with whom his absence has created a void that time will not fill.

Over the years, Mike gave back to the community in various ways.  In his early years as a volunteer firefighter for District 18 (when the entire department was volunteer).  In more recent years, through his volunteer work for the Orting Alumni Scholarship Foundation, security services he provided to his church, and individually through his fireside talks where he counseled men in crisis and/or experiencing loss or grief.  Many of the men who attended his fireside talks were unknown to Mike but he was able to meet a person where they were and help guide that individual out of darkness and to a place of peace.

A celebration of life for Mike will be held July 27th at LightHouse Christian Center, 3409 23rd St. SW, Puyallup, WA beginning at 1:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who desire may donate to the Orting Alumni Scholarship Foundation (IMO Mike McMahon), National Park Service, Orting Food Bank, Tacoma Humane Society or the UW Cardiovascular Research Foundation.