Obituary: Ruby Oveta McMahon
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Ruby Oveta McMahon died at the Curry House in Cadillac, Mich. on June 26, 2011, grateful to Jesus Christ that she had been redeemed by divine love when she was 19 years old. She was 91.
As one of 11 siblings, she was born on March 6, 1920, in Galatia as the daughter of Clell and Ila (Bishop) Morse. She married Mac Woodruff on Feb. 24, 1944. He preceded her in death in 1951. She married Orval McMahon on July 28, 1956. He preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 2011.
She received the only full scholarship given from the Dorrisville school system which enabled her to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Following her graduation, she returned to her hometown of Dorrisville to teach for several years. She later moved to Pontiac, Mich., where she was employed as an elementary school teacher at Pontiac Central Elementary and later at Owen Elementary. She earned a further degree in education from Wayne State University and closed her teaching career as a reading therapist for several years. Her love for teaching never waned. Next to Christ, it was her first love. She retired in the late 1970s.
Mrs. McMahon was a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ from the time of her conversion at nineteen until her death. She was a giver and loved to support the work of Christ wherever she saw a need. Above all, she was a "storehouse tither." She became a member of First Baptist of Cadillac in the late 1990s when she and her husband moved to Cadillac from Florida. She thoroughly enjoyed the Retirees Group and those friends who stood by her in life.
Along with being the best school teacher she could be, she desired to be a mother. In that capacity, she gave of herself tirelessly. Her compassion and love also flowed naturally to all of her grandchildren and step-grandchildren, great stepgrandchildren, and great-great-stepgrandchildren. Having lived a life filled with numerous heartaches and tragedies, she modeled selfless loving and a faith in God that would see her through the worst life could offer. Her long suffering brought both of her husbands to faith in Christ. Her loving kindness also extended well beyond family as she never met a person who was a stranger (for very long).
She is survived by a son, David [Karen] McMahon of Cadillac, Mich.; a stepdaughter, Patricia McMahon of Clarkston, Mich.; stepsons, Richard McMahon of St. Helen, Mich.; Charles (Mary) McMahon of St. Helen; grandson, Jonathan (Lacey) McMahon of Cadillac, Mich.; granddaughter, Jessica McMahon of Warsaw, Ind.; grandchildren, Ella, Reina, and Vivienne McMahon; 10 stepgrandchildren, 26 great-stepgrandchildren; and eight great-great-stepgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two husbands; seven sisters, Helen, Hazel, Dorothy, Pearline, Frankie, Freda and Lucille; three brothers, Jeff, Clell "Mutt" and Paul; a stepdaughter, Judith Kimball; two stepgrandsons, Michael and Douglas; and two stepgranddaughters, Lori and Diana.
Special thanks to the wonderful administration and staff of The Curry House for their loving support these past six months. Also, we thank those from Mercy Hospital and Lakeview Lutheran Manor who extended care and kindness as well.
Funeral services were 10 a.m. Thursday, June 30, at the First Baptist Church of Cadillac, 125 Stimson St., Cadillac, Mich. 49601. The Rev. Mike Stambaugh and Rev. David McMahon officiated. Visitation was from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, at Peterson's Funeral Home in Cadillac. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery. Peterson Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions mzy be made to the First Baptist Church of Cadillac Building Fund.