David McMahon

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- David McMahon, 72, of Fredericktown passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2013, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born June 30, 1941, at Clarkton, Mo., son of Max and Maxine Pierce McMahon. He and Patricia Dean Spears were married June 15, 1962.

Survivors include four sons, Ken (Jennifer) McMahon of Dublin, Ohio, Kevin McMahon of Fredericktown, Keith (Sonya) McMahon of Cape Girardeau and Kerry (Terri) McMahon of Yukon, Oklahoma; a brother, Dr. Don (Dana) McMahon of Nixa, Mo.; a sister, Mary (Phil) Gore of Centralia, Kan.; eight grandchildren, Shane, Brian, Lexi, Emma, Molly, Isabella, Drew and Megan.

He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

David was of the Presbyterian belief. During the last eight months of his life, he fought a tough fight with cancer and his family is very proud of his brave battle with the disease. Born and raised in the Bootheel town of Clarkton, he graduated in 1959 from Clarkton High School. As a senior he was a first team all-state basketball player, playing for his father, coach Max M. McMahon.

After finishing college, he started teaching and coaching in 1963 at Wardell High School in Wardell, Mo. In 1976 he moved to Fredericktown with his young family to become the boys head basketball coach. He taught drivers education and supervised physical education in the early years and then later became the athletic director and assistant principal. Mostly he will be remembered as Coach.

Over a 30-year career, his boys teams compiled a 464-245 record. During his 19 years at Fredericktown he led teams that went 333-183, winning seven conference titles and seven district championships. All four of his sons played on district championship teams. For five years he coached both the boys and girls varsity basketball teams. His teams had losing season records only twice.

Since retiring from teaching and coaching in 1995, he enjoyed and spent valuable time with his wife taking trips and visiting their grandchildren. When he wasn't visiting with his children and grandchildren, he worked as much as he wanted as a representative for Skeeter Kell Sporting Goods.

All his family, friends, colleagues and foes will remember him as a gentleman basketball coach and an even better husband, father, brother, grandfather and an overall good guy.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Friday at Fredericktown High School.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the school, with Dr. Don McMahon and Jason McMurry officiating. Interment will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Pallbearers will be Lonny Sheldon, Don Huff, Perry Kegley, George New, Chadd Starkey and Kevin Dunn. Honorary pallbearers will be Garland Hamilton, Charles Chambers, George McKenney, Scott Sikes, Gary Koch, John Simily III and Roger Sledge.

Follis and Sons Funeral Home in Fredericktown is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to the Fredericktown School District Designed for Athletics, 704 E. Highway 72, Fredericktown, MO 63645.