Sam William McMahan

Sam William "Bill" McMahan, 92, died peacefully Saturday evening, December 7, 2024.

Left to honor his life are daughters and their husbands, Lisa and Jim Pemberton, Cleveland; Cheryl and Ray Schwarz, New Smyrna Beach, FL; and Alicia and Shannon Tyree, Belton, MO. Grandchildren include Shasta Thompson DeGraw and Jimmy, Bonita Springs, FL; Erin Pemberton Melhorn and Josh, Signal Mountain; Brian and Ashley Pemberton, Maryville; Carl Pemberton, Chattanooga; and Jessie and Zane Tyree, Belton, MO. Great-grandchildren are Ally and Eden Melhorn, and Everlee Pemberton. His brother, Bob McMahan and wife Sharon, live in Wilmington, CA.

He is preceded in death by his parents Sam Lincoln and Alice Jameson McMahan and brother Bob McMahan. His mother died shortly after his birth, so he was raised by his aunt who he considered his mom, Jessie Mae Dempsey and her husband, Lloyd. His loving wife, Shirley Ann Shilling, who he married December 23,1969, died after almost 40 years of marriage. His sisters Ruth Bailey, Torrance, CA; Charlotte Bowman, Chattanooga; and brother, Roy McMahan, Wilmington, CA also proceeded him.

He grew up in Cleveland and attended Bradley High School. As part of the class of 1952, he was captain of the football team and worked at Vest's Grocery Store. He moved to Ohio after football season his senior year where he worked in the auto industry and was part of building the first and last Edsel car at the Ford plant in Cleveland, Ohio. Later he moved to California where he worked as a pipefitter and built ships and airplanes for Lockhead.

After his wife's death October 10, 1999, he returned to Cleveland where he was active in the Cleveland Senior Center. He led the daily exercise group, called bingo on Fridays, and attended every possible dance he could find there and around town.

During his life, he accepted Christ as his savior at the now closed Calvary Baptist Church in South Cleveland, became the oldest high school graduate of Reach Academy, was inducted into Bradley/Cleveland's Sports Hall of Fame, and achieved the 32-degree Mason distinction. He also recently received his 50-year chip for sober living at the local AA meeting.

Bill loved life, learning, and helping others. He traveled the world never meeting a stranger and danced with lots of pretty ladies. He was known widely for sharing unsolicited health advice he gleaned from his monthly newsletters and was able to outlive many of his doctors.

Special thanks for the kind care he received during the last year of his life at Charter Senior Living and the wonderful staff led by Sharon Westfield at the Cleveland Senior Center, who provided a purpose for living and willing ears for listening to his stories.

Services will be held at Companion Funeral Home in Cleveland in the Ridge Chapel located at 2412 Georgetown Road NW, Cleveland, TN 37311 on Sunday, December 15 with visitation from 1-3 followed by a short celebration of his life led by his true legacy, his grandchildren.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Bill or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral & Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the McMahan family with these arrangements.