Obituary of Donna Jean (Pemble) McMahan, 79
Donna Jean (Pemble) McMahan.
– Donna Jean (Pemble) McMahan, 79 of Paso Robles, passed away on Sept. 3, 2025, after a long and hard battle with Parkinson’s Disease, at her home surrounded by her loved ones.
Donna was born on January 22, 1946, in Taft, California, the youngest child of Harold and Ruth Pemble. She attended schools in Taft and graduated from Taft High School in 1963. She married her college sweetheart, Pat McMahan, in 1966. Within 6 months of being married, Pat was drafted into the Army.
After Pat graduated from basic training and Signal Corps School, he was stationed in Germany, where, fortunately, Donna was able to join him soon after. Their apartment was a very tiny kitchen and bedroom. We shared the bathroom with the family that lived upstairs. It was so cold in the winter that we slept on a straw mattress, wearing long Johns, an electric blanket, and 6 army blankets on top, and we were still cold. They spent the next year exploring the beautiful country, culture, and amazing castles.
When they were discharged from the Army, they lived in Santa Barbara for about 5 years, where their two sons, Sean and Tim, were born. In 1973, they moved to Paso Robles, where both Sean and Tim went to Paso Robles schools and graduated from Paso Robles High School. Donna worked for a few local companies in their HR Departments, retiring from Applied Technologies as their Payroll Administrator in 2013.
When Sean & Tim were young, they had some great family vacations. During the summer, they would go camping, many times with several other families. In the winter, they went on some fun ski trips with friends and their families.
Donna had so many wonderful friends that she met in Junior Women’s Club, playing adult softball and volleyball. We still have many friends we met in grammar school that we still see and often hang out with.
Many of our fondest memories are from many RV trips that Donna and Pat took throughout the United States. Our favorite trip was a 72-day group trip to Alaska, which took us all the way up to Fairbanks. We met so many new friends on that trip that we still keep in touch with today.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Ruth Pemple. She is survived by her husband, Pat McMahan, her Sister Sandy Sanders and brother-in-law Rodger, her two sons and their wives Sean & Traci McMahan and Tim & Liz McMahan, along with three grandsons Schuyler, Kayson, and Miles McMahan.
There will be a private Celebration of Life. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer a monetary donation to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation.
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Donna was a true friend and will be missed by all who knew her. Prior to her illness she was the life of any party and lit up the room.
George & Diana
I’m deeply sorry to hear about the loss of Donna. I have many fond memories of her vibrant and joyful presence in our young lives, always radiating kindness, wit, and laughter with that unmistakable sparkle in her eyes. My thoughts and heartfelt hugs go out to Pat, Sean & Tim and their families, and her cherished lunch bunch friends (aka sisters in mischief) – all who love her past heaven. Julie V.
Donna was a true friend and will be missed by all who knew her. Prior to her illness she was the life of any party and lit up the room.
George & Diana
I’m deeply sorry to hear about the loss of Donna. I have many fond memories of her vibrant and joyful presence in our young lives, always radiating kindness, wit, and laughter with that unmistakable sparkle in her eyes. My thoughts and heartfelt hugs go out to Pat, Sean & Tim and their families, and her cherished lunch bunch friends (aka sisters in mischief) – all who love her past heaven. Julie V.