Bill McMahon, 70, passed peacefully at home, into Our Lords arms on Sunday, December 21, 2025 with family and dear friends by his side. He was born in Newman, CA., on Dec. 2, 1955 to his parents Marva and Jim McMahon, joined by brother Mick. Moving to Oakdale, CA, at age 3.
He was a third generation of four to graduate from Oakdale High School, (1974) where he excelled in all sports. He graduated from Fresno State University with a Bachelor’s degree and teaching credential in Industrial Arts, along with receiving the top honor “The Golden Hammer Award” while teaching his senior year at Fresno State. Bill taught wood shop at the Junior High level, then high school for 36 years. Also coaching many champion Varsity Golf and Trap Shooting teams, and department head of the industrial arts departments. He was highly respected for his firm belief in standing firm on right and wrong issues by staff and loved by his students. He spent many hours before and after class, to be available for his kids in the wood shop. He mentored many lives until the day of his passing. Teaching the art of fishing, hunting, trap shooting and reloading was his greatest passion for anyone who wanted to learn. He also spent many summers guiding fly fishing on the Aleutian Islands.
He loved nothing more than his Lord and Savior, family and friends. On December 27, 1995 he met and married the love of his life, Kate Vaccaro of Oakdale, CA. Kate gained an awesome “bonus son” Tyson at an early age. They all had many adventures together, Kate even came with her own guns and dogs, which was part of their wedding vows.
They remodeled a home in Grangeville, Idaho in 2005 and made their final move in 2014. Both are active members of Grangeville Christian Church and the Grangeville Trap club. Bill is loved by and survived by his best friend and wife, Kate, in Grangeville, Idaho, son Tyson (Abby) his coffee buddy, Grandsons, Logan (14) and Xander (12), of Modesto, CA, and nephews D.J. (Summer), Johnny, great nephew Xae, and sister-in-law Helen McMahon. Along with his best cousin Tricia Levaggi Carter Noll of Rouge River, OR; and many other sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews on Kate’s side of the family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Marva McMahon and brother Mick McMahon.
There will be a Celebration of Life at Grangeville Christian Church on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 11 a.m. A private burial will be held later in the 5th generation, McMahon Family Cemetery in LaGrange, CA. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.
Bill will be missed and loved dearly by many lifelong buddies in Oakdale and Grangeville.
Into Jesus’ arms we give our “Wild Bill”. We will meet again in Heaven.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Jan. 14, 2026
