Joan Ellen Mahony

Joan loved to travel and wander.

She took up skydiving in Ireland in 1979 and came back to the states and became a Master Jumpmaster with over 4000 jumps in her logbook where she never bounced. Joan taught 3 of her family members to jump too!

In her 40’s she went back to college for her English degree and began her second career of teaching English as a second language. Joan E. taught at Allan Hancock Community College in California in the early 2000’s for over 10 years and started as a Mary Kay Consultant which she continued until the end.

Joan loved the California coast and took many a visitor to see the sea lions on Shell Beach and the Hearst Castle. She loved cool and funky art and sharing her discoveries with people she loved. She was a medaled marathon runner and proudly served as the jump master for the Annual Vietnam Veterans Death Valley Marathon at Death Valley Junction.

Joan E. came back to Texas to be a companion to her brother Mel as he fought cancer and closer to family in 2011. She loved the natural world and also became a Texas Master Naturalist.

Joan E. was the Butterfly Gate Attendant at the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden at the Dallas Arboretum for the past 9 years. In June of 2017 Joan E. sang with the Credo & Dallas Street Choirs at Carnegie Hall. Joan E. was a life long learner and truly enjoyed experiencing different cultures and meeting people from all over the world. She had stories upon stories to share and loved to discuss her favorite horses, Sea Biscuit & Zenyatta. Joan E. enjoyed visiting museums, zoos & arboretums. She was a list maker and crossword puzzle solver extraordinaire.

Joan E. had a loving heart and soul & was generous with her time and resources.

Causes she supported:

Credo Choir, Southern Poverty Law Center, Best Friends Pet Adoption Center of CA, Planned Parenthood, SPCA, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Botanical Garden, Fort Worth Botanical Garden and BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas), Sierra Club, Arbor Day Foundation, North Texas FoodBank, Defenders of Wildlife, Alzheimer’s Association and more.

Places she volunteered:

Hutchins Library, Rogers Wildlife Center, BRIT and more.

Preceded in death by beloved companions, Allister and Sill E. Dog, parents, Letha and Gilbert Mahony, and brother, Mel Mahony.

Survived by

Siblings: Janet & Lyndon Nichols, Tom & Susie Mahony, and Rosemary Mahony.

Nieces: Christine & Joe Gautreaux, Katie Nichols, Stephanie & Patrick Hisel, Sherry & Chris Rutledge, Beth Mahony and Sadie & Scott Marcum.

Great nieces & nephews:

Alexandria Gautreaux, Samantha Gautreaux, Knox Nichols, Izan Nichols, Jordan Hisel, Peyton Hisel, Dayton Hisel, Ryan Rutledge, Andrew Rutledge, Savannah Marcum, Gabriel Marcum.

Close Cousins: John, Mayra, Ixchel, Carlo & Arturo Yundt-Pacheco.

Chosen family:

Mirella (Myra) Salinas, Lilly & Isa.

…and many more beloved cousins, colleagues and friends.

Joan E. fought triple negative breast cancer for the last four years. She kept going until the end. Her spirit was willing, hopes were high but her body didn’t cooperate.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations in her name to one of her favorite charities listed above.

She was loved, she loved, and will be missed.

Rest in peace Joan E. Mahony.