Mary Elizabeth McMahon

Mary Elizabeth McMahon, 81, of Biltmore Forest, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2012. A native of Asheville, she was the daughter of the late Mary Elizabeth Brown Smith and Edwin Bretney Smith, Sr. and wife of the late Francis J. "Frank" McMahon, who passed away February 13, 2011. She also was preceded in death by a son, Robert Alexander McMahon and a grandson, Smith King. Mary Lib was a graduate of St. Genevieve's High School, a member of Central United Methodist Church and a former member of the Junior League of Asheville, the Biltmore Forest Country Club and several garden clubs. She was an avid bridge and tennis player and had won numerous tennis tournaments with her longtime partner, Verna McGaughey. She is survived by a daughter, Beatrice Elizabeth McMahon King and her husband, Bruce, of Florence, SC; a son, Thomas B. McMahon and his wife, Susan C. Lewis, of Asheville; two grandchildren, Lydia and Davis King and two brothers, Canie Smith and his wife, Lynn, of Cashiers and Bretney Smith and his wife, Coleman, of Asheville. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Friday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian conducted by the Reverend Dr. Rob Blackburn. Private interment will be in Riverside Cemetery. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service on Friday and will also be at the residence following the service. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801 or to one's favorite charity.