Clair B. (Tom) McMahan, Jr. was born on June 29th, 1930 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and died on January 12th , 2026 in Bastrop, Louisiana. Services and internment will be in the Saint Matthew Parochial Cemetery Mausoleum on Washington St. and 314 N 11th St. Monroe on Friday, January 16th at 1:00 pm under the direction of Mulhearrn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd. Monroe. Tom lived in St. Louis, Missouri for 17 years attending St. Anne’s in Normandy, Missouri and later moved to Monroe. He graduated from Neville high school, Class of ‘48 and joined the United States Marine Corps, seeing combat in Korea (the forgotten war). After being discharged from service Tom enrolled at LSU in Baton Rouge where he met and married the love of his life, Marilyn Hernandez. He worked at General Chemical in Baton Rouge. Later his father asked him to come to Monroe to be a pilot for McMahan Aviation. He flew for many years patrolling natural gas pipelines. He later became chief executive officer for McMahan aviation, the largest (at the time) pipeline patrol company.

Mr. McMahan was preceded in death by his father Clair B McMahan Sr., his mother Gladys Goodenough McMahan Haas, his stepmother, Lorraine Shepherd McMahan, his brother-in-law Thomas Lide Frazier, sister-in-law, Karen Ann Hernandez Frazer and sister-in-law Susie Hernandez and daughter-in-law, Brenda McMahan. 

Tom is survived by his wife of 75 years, Marilyn, his three sons Michael McMahan, Patrick McMahan, wife Gaye, Dave Shannon McMahan, wife Lynda, and two daughters, Traci McMahan and Sharon McMahan Hanry, husband Robby. Grandchildren are Trinity Claire McMahan, Mary Christina McMahan Saloom, husband Brad, Robert Thomas McMahan, wife Somi, Timothy Shannon McMahan, wife Lauren, Joseph Keegan Hanry and Isabella Hanry, Ryan Cheek, wife Lori, Nicole Colson Baker, wife Amy and great-grandchildren Eli Joseph and Taylor Elizabeth Saloom and Chandler Blake and Mallory Ann McMahan, Logan Lee and Ellie Belle McMahan.

Also, surviving are his brothers-in-law, Milton Hernandez, Jr., Lloyd Hernandez, wife, Maggie, and many nieces and nephews.

Many thanks and blessings to Dr. Lauren Mickey who was his faithful doctor and friend through many years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to your favorite animal rescue. Dad did love him some animals!