Born in New Orleans, La., son of Bertha Frances & Henry George Mahan.  Jim had a twin brother John that died at the age of 2 1/2 in Houston, Texas. He has two other siblings a sister Betty and brother Henry.  He graduated high school in June 1964 from James Monroe High School in Sepulveda, Ca.

May 15, 1965 married Beverly Ann Cresswell, first home was in Sepulveda, Ca.  December 7, 1965 he had his tonsils removed and almost died.  April 7, 1966 daughter Recia Ann was born in Panorama City, Ca.  October 28, 1967 son James Michael II was born in Granada Hills, Ca.  September 15, 1971 daughter Frances Ann was born and passed away in Panorama City, Ca.

In October 1985 Jim complained of having a pain in left shoulder and pain running down his arm to a friend. I walked into the room and told that friend that he was going to have to leave that I was taking him to the hospital.  He was diagnosed with hypertension and taken off work.  On November 1 he had a doctor appointment and was not feeling well, when he saw the doctor she admitted him to the hospital and he had a major heart attack later that night while he was in CCU. When the doctor called me that night he told me that if he had not been in the hospital at the time of the attack that he would not have survived.

Jim worked many different jobs in his lifetime, the last one was for the Department of Water & Power for the City of Los Angeles.  He retired after 26 years of service on September 1, 1998 as the Storekeeper for the Pole Yard.

October 11, 1998 we moved from Los Angeles to McKinleyville, Ca., he loved this area.  On December 13, 1998 as he went to bed he complained that he was having trouble breathing and was coughing.  The paramedics were called and worked on him for a while before transporting him to Mad River Hospital in Arcata. Within one hour had had passed away from congestive heart failure.  He was survived by his wife, two children, five grandchildren, sister and brother.

 

This picture was taken the day after Jim and his mother had been placed in the ground, they are located in front of the cat.		This picture was sent to us after they got the headstone carved, we had them include John and Frances.

This is what was said at the time of the funeral in Waveland Mississippi. It was written by Jim's niece Patty for both Jim and his mother.

The bond between mother and child is constant for all time. So it is for Bertha Francis Mahan and her son James Michael.

Bertha was born in New Orleans in 1911. She enjoyed married life with her husband Henry with whom she had four children. Bertha lived in New Orleans, Texas and California and enjoyed the love of family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many friends throughout her lifetime. Bertha is remembered for her devotion to God and dedication to her family. Bertha [passed away in Ventura Ca. in 1997.

Jim Mahan shared his mother's love of family. He enjoyed married life to Beverly and together they had three children and six grandchildren. Although born in New Orleans, Jim lived most of his life in California, realizing his dream of retiring to the ocean-side forests of Northern California in the final months of his life. Jim is remembered for his determined and creative spirit. Jim passed away in McKinleyville, Ca in 1998.

We rejoice in the knowledge that Bertha and James are bathed in the joy of our beloved Father.