Edward Mahan, age 85, of Corbin, KY, formerly of Harps Creek, KY moved to his eternal home with his Lord and Savior, on November 19, 2024 in Danville, KY.
Born in Harps Creek, Kentucky, Edward was the son of John Smith and Nellie Bennett Mahan. In 1958,
Edward married Betty Sue McDaries, and to this union four children were born, Vickie Leigh Mahan, Pamela Jean Bishop (John,) Paula Ann Kennedy (Jimmy) and Edward Mahan Jr. (Tabatha) of London, KY.
As an educator for most of his life, Edward touched the lives of generations of children. While still a teenager himself, Edward began his career teaching in a one-room school at Beech Bottom, KY where he taught grades one through eight. For the next 30 years, he continued to devote his life to the students of Campbell, Boone, Knox and Whitley Counties.
Edward spent the last decade of his career as a fifth grade teacher at Oak Grove Elementary and principal of Liberty Elementary in Whitley County. After three decades in education, Edward made a short-lived attempt at retirement. Within weeks, he quickly realized that he could not stay away from the classroom, and he returned as an almost full-time substitute teacher in the Corbin Independent School district for the next 19 years. Finally, in 2008, his ridiculously large garden and collection of mules and cattle demanded that he take to farming full time.
Happiest when he was driving a team of mules, whether it was plowing on the farm or showing off in the local parades. Edward was a “mule man” at heart and spent many hours spinning yarns and “trading” at barns throughout the tri-county.
In retirement, he was a devoted “Papaw” to little man, big man, Alice, little E and little lady. He was endlessly patient and enjoyed storytelling, sleepovers, wagon rides, and especially naps.
For the last ten years, Edward has been an ardent fan of his son’s North Laurel Lady Jags Basketball Team. He often took full credit for praying multiple teams into district and region championships
Despite collecting a host of degrees, Edward never saw himself as an academic. Despite being recognized as a distinguished alumni by the University of the Cumberlands and featured as a Hometown Hero by WKYT-TV, he never took much stock in the trophies this world could bring. Preferring to be judged by degree of character, his measuring stick for a man was his love of the Lord, the integrity he demonstrated and the work ethic he displayed. Edward embodied each of these things deeply.
Edward was a member of Little Poplar Creek Baptist Church.
With the grit of ten men, Edward continued, with the help of his devoted wife of 66 years, to tend his farm well into his 80s. They continued to work side by side, even through his battle with Lymphoma that he defeated at age 83. As Alzheimer’s began to steal more of his beloved wife from him, Edward began to long to go “home” and on November 19th, the Lord called him on.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Vickie Leigh Mahan; sisters, Nola Mahan, Arzella Mahan, Mary Ann Taylor (Bill), Jincy McKeehan (Easom), and Shirley Sue Partin (Johnny); brothers, Chester Mahan and Elmer Mahan (Hazel).
He is survived by his wife, Betty Mahan of Danville, KY; daughters, Pamela Bishop (John) of Danville, KY, Paula Kennedy (James) of Dallas, GA and Edward Mahan Jr. (Tabatha); and grandchildren, Pierce Bishop (Haley), Alyssa Bishop, Emma Kennedy, Lucas Kennedy, and Bella Mahan; and brother, Vester Mahan (Anis) of Burlington, KY.
The family will receive visitors at Croley Funeral Home, 103 South 2nd Street, Williamsburg, KY at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 24, 2022, followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. with Ronnie Rose and Jimmy Kennedy officiating.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
