Barbara Gail Mahan

Barbara Gail Mahan passed peacefully on July 12, 2024 at home, surrounded by her loving family in Willow Park, Texas.

Barbara was born in Riverside, California on July 27, 1961 to David and Betty Gail Neely. Once moved to Texas, Betty met and married Benjamin Jack Cockerham.  “Jack” loved Barbara as his own and adopted her into the Cockerham family. Barbara attended the Wills Point schools where she was active in clubs, cheerleading, and volleyball. She graduated in the class of 1979. Those that knew Barbara would agree she was a fighter. She was a woman to desire as a friend. You could always count on her to have your back, be your support and protector, while loving fiercely like no other. So it wasn’t a surprise she decided to fight for our country by enlisting in the Navy…on April Fool’s Day! Over the past several years, she has had to fight to recover from multiple broken bones, heart attack, stroke, Covid, and lastly lung cancer. She married Jerry Anderson while on her first assignment as a Navy recruiter in San Antonio, Texas. It was there they welcomed their first daughter, Amanda Rae. Her next duty station took her to Sigonella, Sicily, where they welcomed their second daughter, Rachel Nicole. The Navy took Barbara to many destinations throughout her career. When it was required of her to begin a series of deployments, she chose Hawaii. Barbara and her sister, Brenda Gail Trollope, who were both single, moved to Hawaii with Amanda and Rachel. Barbara went on six month deployments to Misawa, Japan, Oman Sand Box, as well as Diego Garcia. It was there that Barbara met her true love and companion of 30 years, Mark Mahan, who was also in the Navy. Together they would make their last destination in Terrell, Texas. After serving in the Navy for 17 years as a Personnelman, Barbara chose early retirement from the military. She worked at various companies continuing what she knew best…Human Resources. Her last ‘assignment’ was at MHMR in Terrell where she dutifully helped others in need. If you knew Barbara, this was her passion…to help others and cheering for the underdogs. Learning the trait of cheerleading early in her life, she constantly became your personal encourager! While you could find her cheering on her favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys, nothing made her more proud than to cheer for her grandchildren…GO BEARCATS! It gave her great pleasure to cheer for them in sports or any activity.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Betty Cockerham; step-father, Alvin Jamieson; grandparents, Eddie and Yvonne Norvell and Ben and Ada Cockerham; as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is survived by her loving spouse, Mark Mahan of Terrell, Texas; her cherished blessings, Rachel Nicole Schau (Colter) of Willow Park, Texas and Amanda Rae Phillips of Terrell, Texas; grandchildren, Brandice, CJ, Logan and Jax; her sister, Brenda Gail Trollope (Sherman) of Jonesborough, Tennessee; and nephews, Chance Fiddler of Florence, Colorado and Chase Fiddler of Overland Park, Kansas; step sister, Lesa Julius; and nieces, Brittany (Coleman) and Jax Whittaker all of Canton, Texas.

Since Barbara was an avid dog and animal lover, in lieu of flowers please contribute to your local animal shelter. The family will honor her wishes in foregoing a funeral service.

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