Harland McGaha

Harland R. McGaha, 89, of Kennesaw went to sleep in Jesus on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Hazel McGaha; a sister, Theda Rae McGaha; and a brother, Warren McGaha. Also his wife of 39 years, Anna Young McGaha; and a daughter, Marla McGaha Harold. He is survived by his two brothers, Delbert (Cecilia) McGaha of Stillwater, OK and Dayle (Janie) McGaha of Blackwell, OK; his wife of 14 years, Jeanette Holcomb McGaha; his birth children, sons, Michael (Linda) McGaha of Kennesaw and Randolph McGaha of Marietta; daughters, Andrea (James) Erwin of Collegedale, TN and Joyce Decker of Kennesaw; son-in-laws, Ernie Decker of Kennesaw and Gale Harold of Asheville, NC. Five grandchildren, Kristin (Bud) Emmer, Michelle Erwin, Jason (Jen) Ramey, Anna and Jessica Decker and one great-granddaughter, Abigail Emmer. Also step-great-grandsons, B.J. (Lacey) Emmer and Sean Emmer and step-great-great-grandsons, Noah and Isaac Emmer. His step-children, Dennis (Lee) Holcomb, Randy (Peggy) Holcomb, Sandra Quarles, Ricky (Deen) Holcomb, and Rita (Tom) Reed, nine step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. McGaha was born in Tonkawa, OK on September 29, 1920 and graduated from Tonkawa High School. He was a World War II Navy veteran repairing the airplanes that were damaged during the war. He had been employed by McDonald-Douglass Aircraft Corporation, Boeing Aircraft, NASA and Lockheed, retiring from Lockheed in the early 1990’s. He has been a resident of Cobb County since 1965, always a concerned citizen he wrote many letters to government officials. He was a member of the New Salem Baptist Church and he now awaits Christ’s return. Visitation will be held at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm on Sunday, January 24. Funeral services will be held at New Salem Baptist Church on Monday, January 25 at 2pm. Interment will be in Cheatham Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Calvary Children’s Home, 1430 Lost Mountain Road, Powder Springs, GA 30127 or to The Gideon’s International, PO Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214, two organizations he loved very much.

Harland McGaha

January 20, 2010