James Donald McMahen

James McMahen, 76, of Alma, passed away Saturday, September 16, 2017 in Little Rock. He was born March 23, 1941 in Magnolia, AR to the late Olen and Thelma McMahen. He was a retired Engineering Manager for Gaffey Crane Manufacturing, and a member of First Baptist Church of Alma. James designed fighter jets for the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam Conflict for LTV Aeronautics in Dallas, had a Master’s Degree in both Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, was a pilot, a lifelong hunter and fisherman, and a fifty-year competitive shooter, and had served in the Civil Air Patrol as a teenager. He was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Dyson.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of the home; three sons, James McMahen, Jr. of Harrison, AR, Brian McMahen and wife Dana of Fort Smith, and Robert McMahen and wife Jennifer of Harrison, AR; a sister, Wanda Milner of Magnolia, AR; seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at the First Baptist Church of Alma with interment to follow at Highland Cemetery in Ozark, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Benton, John Neihouse, Mike Moody, Stephen Widner, Matthew Crosswhite, Jesse Crosswhite, and James Slusher.

The family will visit with friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR.