Margaret (Margie) Jean McMahon, a woman of quiet grace and a beautiful servant’s heart, died on August 10, 2021 following five years of fighting with cancer. Margie was determined in this battle and kept her glorious smile and concern for others throughout the difficult days. Although her last months included many challenging bouts with pain and suffering; most memorable were the supportive visits and phone calls from family and friends which brought incredible moments of joy and love, along with delicious treats and memorable conversations. Margie’s family will be forever grateful to everyone’s prayers, generosity, and loving support.
Margie attended Helena Public Schools, graduating with honors from Helena High School in 1985. The former Bengal played volleyball and was a member of the 1984 AA Girls’ Basketball State Championship squad which was also inducted into the Helena Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. She was remembered by her classmates as a beautiful person inside and out with a smile on her face and a kind word on her lips.
After high school, Margie ventured to the Big Apple to work for a wonderful family, caring for their three young children. After a year, she returned to Montana, earning a Business Management degree at the U of M while living in the Alpha Phi house with many terrific gals, including her future sister-in-law, Shannon Velk.
Margie started her business management career as a sales manager at Hennessy’s in Missoula, later transferring to their headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio as a buyer and then as a corporate planner. The company relocated to Arkansas with Margie returning to Missoula with employment as a sales manager for Herberger’s. Lastly, she moved to her parents’ Helena home in 2004 working another five years as a Clinique Consultant at Dillard’s Department Store. In the summer of 2009, she resigned to look for a new opportunity, returning to college earning a certificate in Nutrition and Health Promotion.
During the past 15 years, Margie selflessly shared her talents with those living at God’s Love or by volunteering in her community. She attended daily Mass, mostly online since the beginning of the recent pandemic; yet was a dedicated St. Helena Cathedral parishioner receiving immense solace from the Sacraments. Having that beautiful servant’s heart helped her to live in peace and love of Jesus. Her one audience was the Lord! His grace helped to enlighten her mind and strengthen her will to do good.
In 2017, the McMahon family had a grand reunion! Margie listed some favorite things to do as walking, Pilates, reading and baking. Over the years, she also created several awesome scrapbooks, taught herself to crochet and was beginning to learn the piano. She loved lake activities, especially water skiing with her brothers and friends. Margie thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to see her four nephews and her niece during their various sporting events. Margie considered family dinners and holiday gatherings as a blessing. In the reunion photo memory book, these words help explain the meaning of family: “Our family is a circle of strength. Founded on faith, joined in love, and kept by God. With every birth and with every union, the circle grows. Every sorrow faced together makes the circle stronger and every joy-filled moment spent together increases the love! After all, family isn’t an important thing, it is Everything.”
Margie asked for appreciation and special recognition to be given to all the dedicated and talented medical professionals who cared for her, especially those from Frontier Home Health and St. Peter’s Hospice as well as Dr. Thomas Weiner.
During the past 11 years, Margie greatly missed her beloved brother, Michael Thomas McMahon and prayed daily for the repose of his soul and the same for her cousins, Joseph and Tony Appel and David Zugel. Additionally, those special family members preceding Margie in death were her grandparents, Patrick and Madge McMahon and Anthony and Margaret Zugel; her aunts Jeanne Zugel and Tricia McMahon Mileweski as well as uncles Larry and Jim Zugel and Frank Mileweski.
Margie is survived by her loving parents, Gene and Peggy McMahon; brother Jim McMahon; sister Maureen McMahon-Mannix (Randy) and their sons, Neil, Joe, and Dan; her sister-in-law Shannon Velk McMahon and children, Kaitlin and Brian; with many loving aunts, uncles and cousins who gave immense care and support during her illness. Her pallbearers will be Jim McMahon; Randy Mannix; Neil, Joe and Dan Mannix and Brian McMahon.
To celebrate Margie’s life there will be a vigil service on Tuesday, August 17th at 6:00 PM at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Helena with the Mass of Christian Burial held at St. Helena Cathedral at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 18th with burial immediately following at Resurrection Cemetery. The vigil service will also be available online. A reception will be held at the funeral home following the burial.
Special family friend and author Debbie Boyle leads us in prayer for Margie with this poem: Faithful servant, the sun sets low, your journey begins with miles to go. Lay down regrets, cast sorrows aside, reach to the heavens, arms open wide. Good servant, worthy believer, life begins anew! Godspeed. God Bless. Peace be with you.
Suggested donations made in loving memory of Margie in lieu of flowers: St. Helena Cathedral, St. Peter’s Hospice, God’s Love or donor’s choice. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Margie.
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Tuesday August 17, 2021
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
2:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 18, 2021
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing
Helena, Montana 59601
Rite of Committal
Following the Mass
Wednesday August 18, 2021
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the burial
Wednesday August 18, 2021
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Tuesday August 17, 2021
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Mass
2:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 18, 2021
Cathedral of St. Helena
530 N. Ewing
Helena, Montana 59601
Rite of Committal
Following the Mass
Wednesday August 18, 2021
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the burial
Wednesday August 18, 2021
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
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Brad Bomar says
Sorry for your loss.
Karen Wood Stickney says
Gene, Peggy, Moe, Jim and families. So sorry to hear about Margie’s passing. I know that you are all faithful and confident that she is in a better place with our Lord. That doesn’t take away the feeling of great loss but hopefully can ease your pain. May you all take comfort in your many memories and the love of family and friends. Go with God Margie.
Ann Hennessey says
So sorry to hear this. Prayers for your family.
Mary Ellen McLees Sark says
Prayers for her entire family. Margie was a wondeful caring person. Many great memories playing basketball during the middle and high school.🙏❤
Hohn& Patti Armstrong says
Gens, Peg, and family, so sorry for your loss. John and I are so sorry for your pain. Please accept our prayers for your healing. Our love and condolences to your family.
Henry and Kim Flatow says
Gene, Peggy and family, Words cannot describe the sorrow we feel at this time. Hold tightly to the memories of raising an incredible daughter. Margie is free from her pain and rejoice in the promise that when you see her in heaven, the reunion will be glorious.
Dean Lipp says
I had the opportunity to work with Margie in Missoula when she was with Herberger’s. I was so grateful to have someone so intelligent and meticulous helping myself and my team. I feel fortunate to have known Margie and meeting members of her family. She absolutely loved talking about her nieces and nephews. I am sorry for your loss and I will continue to pray for all of you.
Jim Wilcox and Sally Russell says
So sad to read about the loss of your daughter, sister, aunt and friend. What a beautiful soul. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you
now and in the days ahead. God Bless.
SUZANNE Wilke says
I am so sorry to hear about Margie. We worked the Clinique counter at Dillard’s. She was a quiet and gentle soul. May your faith comfort you.
Sue Binion Wilke
Bill Shea says
I encountered your strong Irish soul in Missoula, no further need I go than to your loving and esteemed parents.
Michelle Holt says
We are sending you peaceful thoughts and strength for this difficult time.
Michelle and Ted
Bridget Larsen says
May God bless you, Peggy, Gene, Maureen, Jim and family. While reading her obituary, Margie’s devotion to our Lord and those around her is apparent. “Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Matthew 22: 37-39. Margie’s life fulfilled Jesus’ commands! May you all be comforted knowing she is in our Lord’s presence! Love, Bridget (Arthur’s daughter)
Gary Mihelish says
Peggy & Gene,
Please accept our sincere thoughts for both of you. Words cannot express the sorrow we feel for you and your family. Margie has left us all too soon. We will be praying for all of you.
Gary & Sandra Mihelish
Leslie DeBree Olsen says
McMahon family
I went to middle school and high school with Margie and remember her as such a sweet and kind soul.
I am so sorry to hear of her battle against cancer and her passing.
Your family is in my prayers.
Leslie DeBree Olsen
Bob and Linda Braun says
Gene and Peggy, Mo and Jim…..
We send our most sincere sympathies to all of you. Some of my best memories of Margie are at our cabin in the Seeley/Swan valley. Our combined families left nothing but great memories.
You are in our prayers.
With love….from Bob and Linda Braun
Larry Holman says
Gene and Peggy,
My sympathies to you and your family. May God comfort you during this difficult time. My prayers are wtih you.
Larry Holman
Julie & Jim DeMars says
We are so very sorry to hear this news. Margie was a beautiful soul – and will be missed by many. We are keeping Margie’s family and friends close in thought and prayer.
Paula (Nickovich) Tocci says
I’m am so saddened to hear of the passing of Margie. She was probably the most genuinely nice person I’ve ever met. She always had a smile on her face. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. RIP Margie❤️
Leslie Stoll-Oneill says
My condolences on the passing of Margie- an incredibly kind soul. She was the nanny for a family right before I was, and I was able to spend a week with her in New York where we laughed and laughed. I will treasure this memory and am sending love and prayers to her family right now. Blessings on you.
Don Smith says
Dear Peggy, Gene and family,
Today August 18th we learned of the passing of your wonderful daughter Margie. We had just returned to Swan Lake from Red Lodge and a Celebration of life and Interment for Brenda’s parents. We were surprised and overwhelmed with news of the passing of Margie. I remember when Margie was a baby fresh from the bathtub on Jackson Street. A small neighborhood where our families bonded. The McMahons, Smiths and the Filsons were a vivacious and supportive group. I am sorry that we are so far away that we have not been able to contribute to the spiritual energy generated by the McMahon and Zugel family. The loss of life this year to family and friends has had a noticeable impact on us. I was not aware of Margie’s struggles.
Her soul is now in my prayer list, and with Margie’s genuine devotion to our Lord Jesus she will hear Brenda’s and my Prayers. Don and Brenda Smith
Steve Wilkins says
May all your great memories of Margie give you comfort during this difficult time. The earth has lost a good soul but God and the heavens have gained a faithful servant. I have fond memories of Margie in the 70’s when dating her older sister. She would often accompany Maureen and I to the Ice Cream Parlor and make sure no funny business was going on! I’m guessing Gene and Peggy hired their youngest daughter to be a body guard for their oldest daughter?? My thoughts and prayers are with the entire McMahon family.
Heidi (Botterbusch) Gile says
Maureen, I just read of Margie’s death and wanted to offer my sympathies. May you find peace knowing she is with Jesus and your separation is only temporary.
Brendan Quinn says
Deepest Condolences and sorry for your loss, from Cousins in Ireland ( Mohan)