Margaret “Maggie” June Mahoney
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Margaret (Maggie) June Mahoney passed away peacefully at the age of 96 surrounded by her family on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. She was born in Portsmouth, England – the daughter of Alfred Samuel George Racher and Margaret Mary (Nee Gray) Racher.
Maggie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who traveled the world and relished life each and every day. She genuinely cared about people and actively sought out and distinguished herself in leadership positions. She enjoyed regaling others with stories of her life’s adventures.
Maggie is survived by her daughter, Patricia Protasio (Chuck) of Lawrence; her daughter Denise Mahoney (Michael Infanger) of New Jersey; her son Michael (Mary) of North Dakota, her granddaughters Sheena Shearburn (Tylor) of Lawrence, Chelsea Baker (Alex) of Lawrence, Kara Baden (Josh) of Lawrence, Molly Mahoney of North Dakota, and Erica Infanger of New Jersey; her grandson Sam Infanger of North Carolina; and six great grandchildren – Margo, Daphne, & Miles Shearburn, Connor & Odessa Baker, and Flynn Baden. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack and her sister Kay.
As a child, Maggie attended various schools and colleges around London. During World War II, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1943 at the age of seventeen. Upon completion of military drill at Innsworth Lane, Gloucester, Maggie was assigned to be Clerk Special Duties in Bomber Command in the Intelligence Section of Middleton St. George, Royal Canadian Air Force. Maggie was then stationed at RCAF Croft until the end of World War II.
After the war ended, Maggie volunteered for overseas service and was assigned to the British Air Forces of Occupation in Bad Eilsen, Germany. She worked in the Air Traffic Control Center. During the Berlin Airlift, Maggie met her future husband, John (Jack) Clifford Mahoney of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Jack worked in the Frankfurt Air Traffic Control Center and met his future wife Maggie over the radio. Maggie and Jack were married by the Frankfurt Burger Meister on February 25, 1949.
Following their assignment in Germany, Jack’s military career took both him and Maggie around the world. It was at Kadena AB in Japan that Maggie embraced the Catholic faith. Along the way, her three children were born. In Maine, Maggie became a Girl Scout troop organizer and was responsible for a television program that reported on international girl scouting.
During Jack’s last military assignment at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota, Maggie began her professional Girl Scout career as a Field Director and Trainer. Now, it was Jack’s turn to follow Maggie in her Girl Scout career. She served as a Field Director and Master Trainer in Savannah, Georgia; Executive Director of the Northern Lakes Girl Scout Council in Hibbing, Minnesota; and Executive Director of the Central Kansas Girl Scout Council in Salina, Kansas. They lived in Salina for 10 years before her retirement. Three months after retiring, she was requested to serve as an Interim Director for the Girl Scout Headquarters, which she did for 9 years. Maggie was a member of the Association of Girl Scout Executive Staff for 35 years. In Salina, Maggie also became a life-long member of the Rotary Club. Jack and Maggie moved to Leavenworth, Kansas in 1993.
Jack passed away in June 1995 and was buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. Eventually, Maggie moved to Lawrence, KS to be closer to family. Maggie has served her community as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Chapter; a volunteer with the United Way; a member of the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army; and a member on the program board of Catholic Charities. In Rotary, she served on the Board of Directors, as President, and as an Assistant Governor. She also served her church St. Casimirs in Leavenworth as secretary of the Finance Committee and as a Eucharistic Minster and reader. Maggie was a Eucharistic Minister and reader for her current church, Corpus Christi Catholic Church, in Lawrence.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence on Monday, January 17, 2022 at 10 a.m. There will be no visitation and COVID protocols should be followed. Interment will be a private family event at the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.
It was a good, long life – blessed with a loving family and filled with wonderful adventures to treasure!
To the Mahoney Family,
I met Maggie years ago at the JCPENNEY salon. When Penney’s closed she followed Rise to Designers Salon where I also work . I always enjoyed seeing her and chatting with her about various things. She was a delight to talk to. I will miss her voice and her stories .
My deepest sympathy as you mourn the loss of your wonderful Mom, Grandma, great Grandma. Maggie was the sweetest, and will be missed by so many.
Sue Glatz
Maggie loved to visit my mum and dad with her husband Jack in the UK then when they passed away she would visit me. She always asked my husband and I to visit her so eventually we did. I’m so glad we met her daughter Pat and her grandchildren and friends. It was lovely to eventually see places she talked about. She was a formidable, caring lady who had a lot of character she will be sorely missed. God bless, may she rest in peace. Love to all her family!
My family and I loved Maggie and hearing all about her adventures.
She introduced me to the rotary and took me along to the meetings when she came to England.
We helped her find gifts to take back to America wool for Chelsea, gob stoppers for Mike and needlepoint for herself.
On Maggie’s last visit to England I was staying with her at Jackie’s house why she was away. I dropped her off at the local Rotary club and asked my nephew Kenny to pick her up at the end. I will never forget the feeling I had when he returned without her. He said she wasn’t there I checked he had gone to the right place which of course he had. I was looking for a telephone number to ring the hall when a car pulled onto the drive. Yes it’s Maggie I felt like a parent where have you been I said, I was worried. Oh I’m fine I decided to accept a lift from someone at the Rotary and started to introduce me to the lady driving the car. Maggie said I got her a bit lost as I didn’t really know where the house was we have been driving up and down the road for ages. Maggie was a very independent and had a mind of her own, she wasn’t afraid of sharing her opinion with you good or bad. However she was kind and thoughtful and we often had a giggle together
I feel like I know all the family in America as Maggie was so proud of them all and talked about them all of the time.
Thank you Maggie for giving me such lovely memories of time spent together.
I met Maggie in Lawrence after hearing about her from my friend, Diane Kelly, who was Maggie’s neighbor. When Diane spoke of Maggie, I was fascinated and asked her to arrange a meeting. I loved hearing of her WW 2 experiences! It could easily be a book. Maggie was a fabulous history teller, so sharp— I could have listened for days. What a tremendous woman! Great loss.
I first met Maggie at a Tai Chi class sponsored by Welcome Club. We hit it off from the beginning telling everyone we were related since we had the same last name. She had a great sense of humor and shared so many wonderful stories of her family. She will truly be missed. With deepest sympathy, Dianne Mahoney
To Maggie’s Family –
May your hearts be filled with warm memories of a truly remarkable, fascinating, accomplished leader. A life well lived seems inadequate in describing Maggie’s life experiences, accomplishments and the positive influence/impact she had on all she met. What a pleasure to have the opportunity to know Maggie thru her involvement at Corpus Christi. Will always think of her with a smile when I glance in the direction of “her pew”. RIP, dear Maggie.
Dear Patricia and family, I am so sorry to hear Maggie has passed away. We have gotten to be such good friends over the years and I loved her so much. I will miss her and our conversations about the Queen and her fun spirit! Rest easy dear friend, I will miss you so much.
To Maggie’s Family
When I first met Maggie at Rotary she introduced herself to me “I’m Maggie Mahoney and I’m full of baloney!” I thought what fun and incredibly nice lady! Little did I know at that time that she would become such a great friend and one I considered family. Maggie was a remarkable woman as you all know but her most endearing quality was her ability to make you smile and feel like you were special and her lifelong friend. I had the pleasure to assist Maggie with transportation to our Rotary meetings and I always looked forward to our chats to and from. She always talked about her family, Rotary, her travels, military service, business and so much more! She truly was a one of a kind! I will miss her dearly and I know the Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary Club will miss her too! Simply put I am a better person for having known her! God bless to the Mahoney family!
Pat and Family,
Your mom was one of a kind. I always enjoyed talking with her and listening to her stories. She was such a bright light at Corpus Christi. IShe was always happy and willing to volunteer here at church. I am so blessed to have called her my friend. May she Rest in Peace!
Cristy Sullivan
Maggie and I sat together often out front here at Meadowlark Estates. she on a bench and I next to her in my power chair. Though six years my senior, she still managed well with a walker and certainly could outdo me discussing our memories of WW II, but she was always interested in what I had to contribute and would remark on previous discussions weeks later. A wonderful person, whom I will miss very much.
David Dinneen
To Margaret ( Maggie)and your incredible
life !
Cheer”s!
To your daughter Denise , and her family(Michael,Sam and Erica) thinking of you all at this difficult time , however so enjoyed the Memories of Margaret visiting Southern New Jersey.
Thank you for introducing me to Margaret and I too ( like many of the remembrances) was impressed and enjoyed our conversations over the years !
In my many years with Rotary International, I had the honor of getting to know you and of your kindness and passion for making the world a better place through service and philanthropy. We also shared another common bond, as we both at one time live on the same street in London’s Kennsington area. To all who knew you, Maggie Mahoney, you will be missed.