Henry Stanley McMahon

Henry Stanley McMahon

Henry Stanley McMahon, Sr., 77, strong, sweet, fearless and witty, this Southern-born mountain man left his piece of paradise in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to be with his Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018. A casual celebration of life for Henry will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018 at the Bridgeway Assembly of God Church in Bonners Ferry. Come hear music and share a story.

He was born on Saturday, Aug. 9, 1941, in Leeds, Ala. Parents, James Harvey and Nannie Sue Dockery McMahon of Alabama, had nine children. Now six have made it to Heaven. Remaining brothers are William Thomas (Jean), Dennis Samuel (Lois) and Raymond Gale (Marylyn).

Henry married Patricia Ann Rouse from Warrior, Ala., on Christmas Eve, 1960. They have two children, Henry S (Karen) and Sonia R (Bill), and one grandchild, Hunter Lee, all living in Florida.

Henry’s favorite Uncle Hardy called Henry “Stamp.” Born during World War II, sugar and flour were rationed. Having another mouth to feed during the war allowed his family to get another stamp to use for food. He graduated in 1959 from Leeds High School, continuing his education at Birmingham Southern, Jefferson State and Livingston University, with a degree in Postal Technology.

“Stamp” became a mail train clerk in Birmingham, Ala., a Postmaster in York, Ala., McComb, Waynesboro and Columbia, Miss., and Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Loving all things outdoors, his 36-year career lead him to Spokane, Wash., where he became director of the Pacific Northwest Postal Operations, traveling through Oregon, Washington and Idaho. After becoming Postmaster of Salem, Ore., he retired as Postmaster in Eugene, Ore.

Henry and his son “Stan” spent many weekends canoeing, camping, trapping, fishing and Jeep riding all over Alabama and Idaho. Occasionally, Patricia and Sonia would come along for these real life adventures; especially for blackberry and huckleberry picking along a secluded mountain trail. Hunter, finally old enough to hold a paddle, helped canoe down the mighty Yaak and Kootenai Rivers with his Poppa Mac.

When Henry wasn’t working at the academy, BTC, Northern Home or helping with elections, he was riding around in the woods, tending to his many fruit trees and vegetable gardens, and reading books. He became a private pilot, was part of several Bonners committees, a volunteer fireman in several towns, and became one of the first SCUBA certified EMT drivers in Alabama.