Jack W. Mahaffey, 84, of Peachtree City passed away May 18, 2023, at Southland Nursing Home after an extended period of declining health following a hip fracture.
Jack was born in Miami, FL on July 4, 1938 to John Henry Mahaffey and Mattie Belle Griswell Mahaffey, where he grew up and attended Miami High, becoming head drum major and graduating in 1956. He loved to tell stories of being in the band and traveling to rival high schools Edison and Jackson, and to pre-Castro Havana.
Jack was a proud alum of the University of Florida, where he was the first in his family to graduate from college. A member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, he was elected Vice President of the student body and inducted into the UF Hall of Fame. He used his Industrial Engineering degree in his career with GE, in both manufacturing and international sales of oil drilling electronic control systems.
It was while attending college that Jack married the love of his life, Katherine “Kay” Ready. Together, they raised three children and, typical of a GE family, they moved frequently. Gainesville, Chicago, Daytona Beach, Decatur, Knoxville, Roanoke, Houston, Singapore, Antwerp, Belgium all became home. Eventually Jack and Kay found their way back to Gainesville where, post-GE career, they operated a Heavenly Ham franchise and Kay became a Realtor with Jack’s behind-the-scenes “secretarial” help.
During Kay’s fight with breast cancer, Jack was her support and caregiver until her passing in April 2009. Jack moved to Peachtree City to be closer to family and resided in a number of senior living residences, most recently Hearthside and Legacy Ridge. He was a member of Fayette Presbyterian Church where he went on mission to Nicaragua and also provided hurricane relief in Ocean Springs, MS.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Willard A. Mahaffey and James H. Mahaffey, and Kay, his wife of almost 50 years. He is survived by his sister Sara Stoddard of Miami, FL and his children Kevin (Suzanne) Mahaffey of Fayetteville, Michael (Lisa) Mahaffey of Fayetteville, and Katherine Rinz of Rowlett, TX. He enjoyed his grandchildren Heather, Kyle, Blake, Mason, Clark, Kaylin, and Emma, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 3:00 PM at Fayette Presbyterian Church, 791 Forrest Ave., Fayetteville, GA 30214. Family will receive guests afterward in the Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jack’s name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or to the Fayette Presbyterian Church Missions and Outreach Program.
We welcome you to provide your condolences, thoughts, and memories on our Tribute Wall.
Mowell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Peachtree City, www.mowells.com
What a beautifully written obituary to honor a beautiful life. My condolences to the Mahaffey family.