Elizabeth Ann McMahon

Elizabeth McMahon was born Elizabeth Ann Gromer. She was the middle child in a family of three daughters of a Baptist Missionary in Oklahoma. The family moved out to California in the 1930s where she was raised in the desert in Banning. She had a joyous time running wild on the desert. Full of (mostly) innocent mischief.

When she got older, she went to University of Redlands for 2 years then transferred to UCLA. She majored in Art, then taught art for a solid 40 years in the LA city school system; first at the high school level, then for most of her career, at the junior high level. She actually loved junior high kids. She genuinely loved their energy and their creativity. She felt many of them were still rather sweet in their way although she said part of her job was to prevent them from killing each other. (Please put down the sissors!) Towards the end of her career, she became a guidance counselor.

She has lived in her house in Woodland Hills since 1969 where she raised her two daughters and had numerous dogs and cats over the years.

She is survived by her two daughters, Maureen O’Brien and Denise Williamson, their husbands, Nick Loter and Doug Williamson, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. We are all grateful for her loving care and sharp wit.

As she wished, she stayed independent and in charge of her own affairs until the end or her 94 years. She needed some daytime help the last few years. She was especially fond of Veronica who was both a good friend and took excellent care of her.

She had many friends; too numerous to mention. She loved the Arts. It was always a treat for her to visit the various museums about LA. She read voraciously. She loved plays. When she was younger and was still able, she traveled a lot—all over the world. Once her children left college, the world was her oyster. In her 30 years of retirement, she did a lot of painting.