Marjorie Jane McMahon

Marjorie Jane McMahon, age 83, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 16 surrounded by her four children. She was born January 29, 1933 in Chicago to Major Cornelius James and Marie Bierne Thompson. Growing up an army brat she travelled extensively with her family due to her father’s career, riding in the back seat of his jeep throughout post-war Germany, Italy, and France. She attended schools all over the US from Chicago to Savanna, Georgia, in England, and in Nürenburg, Germany where she observed in person the famous war crimes trials.

She graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Illinois. It was there that she met Edward Lawrence McMahon, whom she married in 1953. Together they had four children and lived together in Ann Arbor, where Larry was an associate professor at the U of M, for over 40 years.

She made jewelry and handcrafts that she sold at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair in the ‘60s and ‘70s. She had a long career as a graphic designer at Bechtel Power Corporation and then as a freelancer.

She loved to travel, especially to Italy. Florence, where she was captivated by the art, the food, and the culture, was a favorite destination. In 2008 she travelled to China with her daughter Marie and son-in-law Curtis for the adoption of her granddaughter Phoebe; she delighted in telling stories of their adventure.

Marj was fiercely independent, abundantly generous, and relentlessly upbeat. Her famously keen wit remained with her to her last days.

She is survived by her four children, Michael (Karen) McMahon of Manchester, MI, Terence McMahon of Los Angeles, Douglas McMahon of Chicago, and Marie (Curtis) Parmer of Ann Arbor; five grandchildren: Jasper McMahon, Devin McMahon, Katie McMahon, Sean Parmer, and Phoebe Parmer. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Coleen Proctor of Guilford, CT, Kathleen McCollum of Chicago, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, who passed away in 1994.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 21, at 10am at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 306 North Division Street, Ann Arbor, MI. The family will receive guests after the ceremony at the home of Curtis and Marie Parmer, 1511 Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Food Gatherers of Ann Arbor.