Wade D. Mahannah

MAHANNAH, TAYLOR, ATCHISON, BAILEY

Posted By: Gloria J. Henry (email)
Date: 2/12/2005 at 13:41:20

MAHANNAH’S DEATH CLAIMED ACCIDENTAL
Some conclusions have been reached in the death of Wade D. Mahannah, in Florida, according to a letter received here last week from a sister-in-law of the deceased, Mrs. Vance Mahannah, of Miami, Fla.
These conclusions were reached after the Medical Examiner and the detectives of the City of Miami had sifted all the clues and facts. The facts are these:
Wade had recently taken up his residence at a Retirement village, located some 35 miles south of Miami. When he found himself unable to drive, his doctor had suggested his residing in this Retirement Village. A courtesy bus, which was operated for the convenience of the tenants of the village, had taken Wade, along with several of ;his friends, to a nearby shopping center. When it was time for the bus to return, Wade did not return to the bus. Thinking Wade had made other plans, the bus returned to the retirement village.
Later, Wade’s body was found only about a mile from the retirement village, and also a short distance from the old Culer Ridge Relay Station for the Florida Power & Light Co. When this station was constructed, Wade had superintended the installation of the entire electrical panel, and it had been his habit over the years to visit the station when time permitted.
The surrounding land was being cleared for the proposed building of a huge condominium and the terrain was very rough as the territory had been a mangrove swamp, into which at high tide, the waters from Biscayne Bay backed up to the depth of near three feet. The detectives and the medical examiner came to the conclusion that Wade was on his way to the Relay Station through this rough terrain, when he lost his footing and was unable to regain it because of the incoming tide. The autopsy showed not fractures of bodily abuse; his wallet still contained $32. The conclusion is that he died by accidental drowning.
A son of Charles S. and Ella Taylor Mahannah, Wade was born at North English, Iowa, Dec. 10, 1895; died by accidental drowning and was laid to rest by the side of his wife, Ella Mae Atchison Mahannah, who preceded him in death by about 25 years, in the Fort Pierce, Fla., cemetery, on Jan. 23, 1975. Graveside services were conducted by Rev. Darrell Joschim of the First Christian church of F. Pierce.
While a student at North English high school, Wade was a star athlete and an accomplished musician, as well as an outstanding student. He graduated here in 1914. The family then moved to Florida.
Wade served his country in World War l, and after the Armistice, he returned to attend the University of Florida, and graduated as an electrical engineer. He spent all of his working years with the Florida Power & Light Co.
Wade is survived by a daughter, Marian Mahannah Bailey, and her husband, R. Ed Bailey, Jr., and three grandchildren, all of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and two brothers, C. Mark and Forrest Clark. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers, Keith and Vance.
13 March 1975 Newspaper obituary