Richard Gerald Mahin

Richard Gerald Mahin, age 90 of Jewell, died Monday, June 5, 2006 at the Mitchell County Hospital Long Term Care Unit in Beloit. He was born September 26, 1915 on a farm southeast of Randall, Kansas to Richard (Roy) and Pearl (Carlton) Mahin. After the death of his father in 1917, his mother Pearl married Jud Hutchison who became a father to Gerald. Gerald was one of seven children Howard, Carmon, Verl, Gerald, Don, and step brothers: Faye and Hosea.

Gerald attended the Fairplay Grade School in Allen Township and as a very young man began working for a neighboring farmer and a blacksmith.

Gerald met Eva Elizabeth Thompson at the Jewell City Park in 1933, and on April 28, 1937 were joined in marriage at the Cloud County Courthouse in Concordia, Kansas. Their marriage was witnessed by Eva's mother Barbara Thompson and Gerald's mother Pearl Hutchison.

Gerald and Eva made their first home on a farm north of Burr Oak, Kansas. Their only daughter, Mary Lou was born in Jewell on May 14, 1938. Mary Lou was delivered by Dr. Carl Plowman at the home of Ed and Thelma Carlton. Gerald and Eva struggled with their farm during the depression and after two years moved to Wichita, Kansas where he was the manager of a feed mill for Wallendorf Grain Company on North Broadway.

In 1944, Eva and Gerald returned from Wichita to the farm southeast of Randall where Gerald was raised. Gerald was the manager of the Randall COOP Elevator in the late 1940's and later ran the township road grader to supplement their farm income.

They retired from the farm to their home which Gerald built in Jewell in 1973. During his retirement, he worked as a carpenter, building houses, barns, and garages in and around Jewell. He also served as the maintenance superintendent for the Jewell apartments. His favorite work was the construction of the shelter houses and restrooms and Magg Park in Jewell.

He was very civic minded, having served on the Election Board, Allen Township Board, West Hope Cemetery Board, Buffalo Creek Watershed District and the Jewell City Council.

Gerald joined Eva as a resident of the Mitchell County Hospital Long Term Care Unit in 2000. He was honored for his healthy habits of walking and exercising every day. After a stroke in 2000, he walked over 700 miles and completed many repetitions on stationary exercising machines, showing remarkable strength and persistence.

He was preceded in death by his wife Eva; his parents Richard and Pearl, his step father Jud Hutchison; brothers Howard, Verl, and Don Mahin; a sister Carmon Deever; step brothers Faye and Hosea Hutchison, one infant grandchild and one infant great grandchild.

Survivors include a daughter Mary Lou Shelton and husband Robert of Randall; three grandchildren Curtis and Dee Shamburg of Portis, Kevin and Joleta Shamburg of Salina, Kirby and Colleen Shamburg of Randall; twelve great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, June 9, 2006 at the McDonald Funeral Home in Beloit with Pastor Kirby Shamburg officiating. Interment will follow in Jewell Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or the Magg Park in Jewell. Friends may call from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the McDonald Funeral Home. The casket will remain closed.