Jerry A. McMahon

Jerry A. McMahon, 75, of Morganton, NC died Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at his residence. Born in Burke County, NC on July 12, 1938, he was the son of the late John Clyde McMahon and Eula Beck McMahon. Jerry was a member of Mt. Home Baptist Church.He was a graduate of Morganton High School. He received his associate’s degree from Mars Hill College in 1959 and his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from N.C. State University. After finishing school he was employed by DuPont in Martinsville, VA and then went to work at Great Lakes Carbon, Corporation for 20 years. Jerry also owned and operated several real estate development companies and was currently co-owner of Quaker Meadows Golf Course. When he was just 14 years old, he built and operated Jerry’s Miniature Golf on East Union Street. He also published the Trade Winds trader magazines for several years.Jerry was on the Board of Trustees for Western Piedmont Community College in 1991. He was a member and past president of the Morganton Optimist Club and served as the lieutenant governor of Optimist International for North Carolina. Jerry was a former member of the Burke County Commissioners from 1981-1988 including serving as chair from 1984-1988. He was a member of the Burke County Economic Development Council from 1979 until 1988 and the N.C. Waste Management Board in 1989. Recently Jerry helped his grandson, Drew, complete his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout project at the Erwin Cemetery.Jerry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janice McLamb McMahon of the home; a son, Dr. Mark A. McMahon and his wife, Nan Pate McMahon, of Morganton; a grandson, Drew McMahon; a granddaughter, Mallory Grace McMahon; and a sister, Roxie McMahon Hewel and her husband, Capt. William Hewel (Ret. US Coast Guard), of Wilmington, NC.The funeral will be held at 3:30 p.m., Friday, September 20, 2013 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerry Gamble officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 until 3:30 p.m. prior to the service.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Piedmont Council, P.O. Box 1059, Gastonia, NC 28053 or to Mount Home Baptist Church, 2272 Mount Home Church Road, Morganton, NC 28655.