James E. Mahan Jr.

James Edwin Mahan Jr., 93, of Leon, left this life on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at the Decatur County Hospital in Leon.

Jim was born Aug. 5, 1931, the son of James Edwin Sr. and Ettie Katherine (Lucas) Mahan at Mount Ayr. Jim grew up in Mount Ayr and graduated from Mount Ayr High School with the class of 1949. He joined the United States Navy in July 1952. After his honorable discharge in May 1954, he worked for his dad at Mahan Monument Co. and the Iowa Fish Hatchery, both in Mount Ayr, until landing a job at Iowa Southern Utilities as a meter reader. With his work ethic and personality he worked his way up into management and retired as district manager over several southern Iowa towns. He lived in both Mount Ayr and Leon, to fulfill his duties.

In December 1954, he was united in marriage to Betty Jean Powell in Mount Ayr. They were blessed with two sons, Thomas and Kevin. Betty and her mother were both killed in a tragic motor vehicle accident in December 1964. On March 31, 1968, Jim married Marilyn Joan Fulton. Jim later adopted her two children, Shannon and Bruce. To complete the family, they were blessed with son, Sean.

Jim was a member of the Mount Ayr American Legion Post 172, the Creston Elks Lodge #605 and the Leon Golf and Country Club. In his free time, he enjoyed golfing, fishing and watching the Iowa Hawkeye teams.

Preceding him in death were his parents; wives, Betty Mahan and Marilyn Mahan and his sisters, Dorothy Caskey, Gertrude Baker and Bettye Coates.

Survivors include his children, Tom (Tonya) Mahan of Denton, Texas, Kevin (Jane) Mahan of Creston, Shannon Yeaton of New Albany, Indiana, Bruce (Tammy) Mahan of Parker, Texas, and Sean (Stephanie) Mahan of Corydon; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many, many friends.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at the Slade - O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon, with Pastor Rick Hawkins officiating. A visitation gathering will be 3-7 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr at a later date.