Obituary of Harlan McGaha

Harlan McGaha passed away quietly at home on November 4, 2006 after a lengthy illness. He was 82 years old. He was born on January 13, 1924 in Oak Grove, Louisiana. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Helen Robinson McGaha. He is also survived by his daughter, Georgia Ellen McGaha Talton Hartley of Bastrop, his four grandchidren, Kriste Louise Talton, Stephen Eric Talton, Anna Victoria Talton Reynolds, and Julie Catherine Talton McCrory, and four great-grandchildren, Whitney Elizabeth Gentry, Jana Nicole Lowry, Seth Anthony McCrory, and Symantha Reese Talton. He is survived by two sisters, Dauphine McGaha Wilkerson and Mabel McGaha Adams, a brother, L.M. McGaha, and sister-in-law, Eva Bolton McGaha. He is predeceased by two infant sons, Ray Carl McGaha and Harlan Lafayette McGaha, his foster son, Sammy Robinson, and his parents, Lafayette Washington McGaha and Mae Freeland McGaha. He was also predeceased by his brother, Rogers McGaha, two sisters, Essie McGaha Whorton and Lavada McGaha Whorton, and three nephews, Leroy Whorton, Donald Whorton, and Jerry Whorton. He is also survived by nieces, Louise McGaha Hunter, Charlene Wilkerson Talton, Helen Wilkerson Joyner, Julia Wilkerson, Jeanette Whorton Carney, Katherine Adams Key, Ester Adams Johnson, Karen McGaha Sims, and Sherry McGaha Murphy, and nephews, Mitchell Whorton, M.C. Whorton,Jr., James Whorton, Lester Whorton, Glenn Whorton, Kenneth Adams, Harry Adams, and Denver Adams. Mr. McGaha attended Forrest High School. In July 1941, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. and served throughout World War II. He was assigned to the air craft carrier, the USS Lexington, and sailed out of Pearl Harbor only two days before it was attacked in December, 1941. He was aboard the Lexington when it was bombed and sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May,1942. Sgt. McGaha received the Purple Heart after being wounded on Iwo Jima in February, 1945. Fellow Marine Ray Warren helped rescue him during the battle and later as they were being removed from the island Warren held him up to the port hole of the rescue boat so that he could see the American flag after it was raised on Mt. Suribachi. Throughout his life, he remained in close contact with Ray Warren who resided in Texas and other fellow Marines, Nelson Gerhart of California, Robert Webb of Illinois, Edward Decker of Oklahoma, David Rennie of Michigan, Roy Watson of Texas, and George Calvert of Louisiana. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After his military service, Mr. McGaha returned to Louisiana and made his home in Bastrop. He worked briefly for International Paper Company. For twenty-seven years from 1953 to 1980, he owned and operated McGaha Appliance Service. He later worked as an electrician for the Morehouse Parish School Board from 1980 until he retired in 1990. After he retired, he enjoyed gardening and doing odd jobs around the house. He relaxed at night by playing guitar or piano both of which he played by ear. Mr. McGaha and his wife became members of Greenacres Baptist Church in 1952 where Harlan served as a deacon from 1953. Greenacres presented him with a plaque in 2002 in honor of 50 years of service as a deacon in the Church. He was a member of the Church choir for many years. He also oversaw maintenance for the Church. The family expresses special thanks to Dr. Carter Cox and the staff at Morehouse General Hospital Home Healthcare. Deep thanks are also given to long-time neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jones, Pastor Chad Ballard and the members of Greenacres Baptist Church, and Pastor Paul McComack and members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Monroe, Louisiana. Funeral services were held on November 6, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Greenacres Baptist Church. He was laid to rest at the McGaha Memorial Cemetery in Oak Grove, Louisiana.