Beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle and friend Melvin C. (Bill) Mahorney, 91, passed away December 30, 2024 in Reston, Virginia after a period of declining health. Bill was born in the Sugar Loaf Mountains near Poteau, OK, February 21, 1933, to Mell C. and Alice M. Mahorney, and his family moved to California in 1942, living in various towns throughout Northern California before settling in Maxwell, where he enjoyed hunting, played many sports, and met many lifelong friends, graduating from Maxwell High School in 1951.
Joining the United States Navy in 1951, he was a Radioman on the USS Menard, a Haskell-class attack Transport during the Korean conflict, also serving in San Diego, China, Japan, and the Philippines. Honorably discharged in 1955, he was proud to be recognized by the United Nations and the Republic of Korea in 2000 on the 50th Anniversary of the conflict. The citation was for helping to safeguard the Republic of Korea and uphold liberal democracy around the world.
At the conclusion of his Naval service, he returned to Northern California, where he worked a variety of agricultural jobs, and continued his education, enrolling in Yuba College and later Chico State College’s School of Engineering.
While pursuing his degree, he married the former Marie Christine Stefano in Colusa, California on December 26, 1959. In October of 1960, they were blessed with their first child, Julie Therese while living in Chico. After graduating from Chico State, Bill joined the Federal Government, beginning his decades long career where he performed a variety of engineering and design jobs in Northern California and Southern Oregon, where he surveyed, designed, and built everything from roads to public facilities. Subsequently settling in Sacramento, Bill and Marie welcomed their second child, William Frank in May of 1963. Bill and Marie’s adventures continued, bringing them to various locations, including Washington D.C. (twice), Fountain Valley, CA, Roswell, NM, and Denver Colorado, during which time Bill became an internationally recognized expert on water desalination and purification. His expertise as technical manager of groundbreaking technology projects in Southern California and Roswell, NM led to breakthroughs in technology that continue to be used to this day. A highlight of his career was his selection to lead a joint effort between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that developed a water desalination facility in the Arabian Gulf that produces over 500,000 cubic meters of water per day, which supplies over 2 million persons with clean water. After returning from 2 years in Saudi Arabia, Marie and Bill settled in Denver, where Bill retired from the Federal Government in 1988. Upon his retirement, Bill was quickly offered a position as Deputy Director of the Technical Services Division of the Clark County Sanitation District in Las Vegas, NV where his office evaluated and approved water and building permits for the many casinos and hotels that were built in Las Vegas during an extremely high growth period in the late 80’s and early 90s. Retiring for the second time in 1994, Bill and Marie remained in Las Vegas, near daughter Julie and son-in-law Manny. After many years of cruises and travel, they returned to their roots in Colusa in 2014, where they enjoyed the company of their many friends and relatives.
Bill was extremely family and community oriented, coaching football and basketball in several Church and City leagues during the 70s and was always willing to help his community and church. Bill was often asked to organize and run festivals for the Catholic Church. While living in New Mexico, the local pastor was heard to say “Sorry, Mahorney, I tried to give this to someone else this year, but I need you to take over, because I know you will get it done.”
With family, he was always happy to be part of his children’s lives, whether it be coaching his son’s football or basketball team, being involved in Y Indian Guides, Cub and Boy Scouts, or attending a Grateful Dead concert with his daughter Julie (which he thoroughly enjoyed). He also never failed to assist other family and friends with advice, funds, or his personal time, all of which he gave without reservation.
A man of diverse interests and a keen sense of humor, he also enjoyed electronics, Ham radio, sports cars, and flying single engine planes.
He is survived by his best friend, Marie Christine Mahorney, his loving, and supportive wife of 65 years of Reston, Virginia, son William (Bill) Mahorney (Jing) of Oakton, VA, and daughter Julie Mahorney-Saenz (Manny) of Henderson, NV, nephew Michael Marslek of Sacramento, sister in law Kaye Rogers Mahorney of St. Helena, nephew Michael Lowell Mahorney (Michelle) of Clinton County New York, and nieces Lori Ventimiglia (Joe) of Tehama County, and Shannon Mahorney (Troy Thurman) of Etna, and numerous cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mell C. and Alice M. Mahorney, his brother, Robert Gene Mahorney, and his sister, Flora Twilley. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Heart of the Nation TV Mass heartofthenation.org or Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Colusa ourladyoflourdescolusa.com.
Bill had 2 simple pieces of advice for having a good life that I think he would like everyone to remember: “1) Marry your best friend, and 2) have separate bathrooms.”