Publication Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010

  Ray W. Mahannah, 86, of Grants Pass died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at his home.A graveside service with military honors will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Granite Hill Cemetery. A reception will follow. Chapel of the Valley-L.B. Hall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Spears Cancer Center, 510 S.W. Ramsey Ave., Grants Pass, OR 97527.He was born Sept. 30, 1924, in Burlington, Conn., to Harold and Mabel Mahannah. He joined the Navy and served as a motor machinist's mate during World War II. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.On Oct. 7, 1949, in Bristol, Conn., he married Eileen Rita Dee, who survives. Prior to his retirement, he worked as an airline mechanic for 17 years. In 1974, he moved from Miami to Grants Pass, where he worked for the Josephine County School District maintenance department for 12 years.He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.In addition to his wife, survivors include six daughters, Gail Mulcahey of Ivoryton, Conn., Patricia Mundy and Kathleen Mahannah, both of Grants Pass, Mary Dee Knouff of Medford, Linda Anderson of Redmond, and Eileen Campbell of White City; three sons, Ray "Tim" Mahannah Jr. of Grants Pass, James "Jim" Mahannah of Cloverdale, and Harold Mahannah of Kenosha, Wis.; a sister, Alice Vesely of Virginia Beach, Va.; a brother, Oliver Mahannah of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; 20 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.