Michael Mahoney

Casper, Wyoming / January 7, 1926 - October 26, 2016 Services for Michael Gibbsons Mahoney, age 90, will be conducted at the Oregon Trial Veterans Cemetery June 16, 2017 at 1 p.m. He died October 26, 2016 at LHC. He was born January 7, 1926 in Denver, Colorado, the son of Michael and Mary (Gibbons) Mahoney of the family home in Casper, Wyoming. His father was from County Cork, Ireland and his mother was born in Denver, Colorado and her parents were from Ireland and England. He grew up in Casper where he attended and graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyoming, in 1944. He excelled in football and basketball and lettered in both. He married Barbara Lucore on May 10, 1949 in Denver, Colorado and had four children, Mike E., Yvonne L., Michelle A., and Patrick C. He entered the U.S. Army in 1944 where he was a 1st Sargent in Auto Maintenance at the end of World War II in the Philippines. Following his discharge he moved to Denver with his mother and sisters and worked a year until he attended college in Ft. Collins, Colorado and then transferred to Greeley, Colorado where he graduated with an education degree in Physical Education. He then obtained a teaching job in 1950 as the elementary physical education supervisor, taking Quincy Tarter's position in Casper, Wyoming. During that time he taught every boy in the school district from fourth grade through seventh grade. He remained in that position for eight years then moved to East Junior High School upon it's opening in 1958 and remained there as a physical education instructor, athletic director and coach, until his retirement in June 1991, after spending 41 years in education in Natrona County. He enjoyed working with the students, coaches, players, and fellow teachers. He spent 34 years as a referee for both football and basketball throughout the state, retiring in 1984 from referring. He also spent 30+ years teaching drivers education during the summer months. He was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992. He married his second wife, Sue, in August of 1975. After their retirement, they spent most of the winters traveling in the southern states for two years until they settled in a place along the Colorado River, just south of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Summer months were spent between Casper and Dubois, Wyoming where they had homes as well as Alcova Lake as members of the Casper Water Ski Club, where Mike became a member in 1959. He always felt it was a great place to raise his kids and was a life saver for him, alone with four children. He had many fond memories at the club and lots of hard work and long hours to help make the club what it is today. He was also a past president of the Casper Water Ski Club. He loved to water ski and taught his kids and many other kids to ski. Upon several occasions, he used his boat to provide transportation to the Senior Citizens groups around the Alcova Lake and Canyon, as well as for the science classes of Dana Van Burgh and Ed Strube of Natrona County School District during the summer. He also supervised the Casper Water Ski Club Tournaments. He was a lifetime member of the B.P.O.E. Elks of Casper and Lake Havasu City, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, George; and sister, Margaret at birth; sisters, Mary, Patricia, and Rose Ann; and his eldest son, Mike E. Survivors include his wife, Sue; three children, Vonnie Andrea-Cox of Fort Worth, TX, Shelley Mahoney of Casper, and Patrick Mahoney of Oklahoma City, OK; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery or the St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Mikes name. Charitable donations may be made to: St. Anthony's Catholic Church 604 S. Center, Casper WY 82601 Tel: 1-307-266-2666 Web: http://stanthonyscasper.org/giving/ Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery P.O. Box 669, Evansville WY 82636 Tel: 1-307-235-6673 Web: http://wyomilitary.wyo.gov/veterans/cemetery/

Service

Friday, June 16, 2017 1:00pm

Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery

Curtis Street

Evansville, Wyoming 82636