Ruth McCarey McMahon

Last spring, only months before turning 90, Ruth McMahon auditioned for a Senior Idol show in Fort Lauderdale. Her son, Joe Crowley, selected some of her show gowns from the closet, had them altered, arranged for nail and hair appointments and turned her loose. She was one of 12 selected from 150 senior citizens to perform at the Parker Playhouse where she sang Frank Sinatra's "That's Life" and "If He Walked Into My Life" (from Mame). Not only did she receive a standing ovation, she was a runner-up for second place. It was her final performance. Ruth McMahon, born July 5, 1922 in Roxbury, Mass., died December 20. Ruth was one of six born to Margaret Kellman and Harry McCarey, himself a showman, in vaudeville in Boston in the 1920s. The children grew up singing around the piano, and soon after high school Ruth went to work and was always called upon to perform at the company's annual Christmas parties and events throughout the year. Her talents were sidelined when she married Joseph Crowley, an Army Sergeant stationed in Texas. He died on patrol in 1944 and Ruth, not realizing she was pregnant, returned to Boston. Joseph Harrison Crowley was born in April 1945. R...[more]

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remarried several years later and moved to Florida with her husband James J. McMahon and had two more children, Janice McMahon and Kevin McMahon. She was a busy mother and housewife, engaged in school functions and church activities until she happened upon a talent show while visiting friends at the Desert Inn Hotel on Miami Beach. There she was encouraged to sing in the talent show put on weekly for the hotel guests. Unprepared but fearless, she won! The host was reluctant to present her with the trophy suspecting that she must be a professional. Once he was convinced that she was truly a housewife living in Hialeah, he offered to hire her to perform professionally at the hotel. Soon, spotted by local talent agents, her career sky-rocketed. She became the most sought after entertainer on Miami Beach, and at age 32 was launched as a professional singer/entertainer that lasted over 50 years. She performed on stages throughout the country from Miami Beach to New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, and throughout Europe. Ruth McMahon became a bubbly bouncing version of Sophie Tucker with a voice of Patsy Cline. During her career years, she worked with and became close to comedians Don Rickles, Rip Taylor, Phyllis Diller, Totie Fields, Alan King, Tubby Boots, Frankie Scott, Belle Barth, Leon Fields and other top name comedians. She maintained close contact with all these her friends and countless others including Larry King, and singers Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Rosemary Clooney, Hildagarde and Patsy Abbott to name a few. Her most memorable gig was opening and touring with the legendary Billy Eckstine. When she played at what were then the two top nightclubs in Boston in September of 1967, she followed the late star Patti Page at Caesar's Monticello, and at Blinstrub's she was followed by Connie Francis. She also entertained on cruise ships for 10 years and did 12 years in a production called "The Golden Girls of Music and Comedy" the longest, continuously running revue in South Florida and, since 1958, had been a member of an organization called PROPS, women in show business who performed to support charities in the state. She believed in giving back and her favorite saying was, "Don't tell them, but I would have done this whole thing for NOTHING." She retired in 1982. In July, soon after her Senior Idol Performance and turning 90, Ruth suffered a fall at home and after a brief period in the hospital, she died in hospice care at home with her son Joe caring for her. She is survived by her three children: Joe Crowley of Pembroke Pines, Fl, Janice McMahon of Toccoa, Ga, and Kevin McMahon of Bunnell, Fl. Also surviving are Joe's son, Christopher Shawn Crowley of Pembroke Pines, Fl.; daughter, Kimberly Lauren Crowley of Asheville, N.C.; and son Jonathan Sterling Crowley of Orlando, Fl; and his two step-daughters, Michele Ann Winick of Los Angeles, Ca, and Pamela Teresa Grove of Austin, Tx and three great-grandchildren Cameron, Maggie and Nina. She is also survived by Janice's husband Kenneth Dover and their children Angela Chase and Julie McCurry and their husbands David Chase and Kevin McCurry, Respectively, all of Toccoa Ga. Ruth's great-grandchildren also include Ashley and Ryan Chase, and Hannah McCurry all of Toccoa, Ga. Her son Kevin's children; grand-children Jennifer McMahon of Athens, Ga. and Eric McMahon of New York, also survive her. Ruth McMahon's funeral will be held at Fred Hunter's Funeral Home, in the 6300 block of Taft Street in Pembroke Pines on Monday, Jan. 7. She will be laid to rest in the purple chiffon gown she wore at her final performance. The viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Mass for her will be said at 10 a.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, 701 North Hiatus Road, in Pembroke Pines. Following will be a celebration of Ruth's life and career at Pembroke Lakes Country Club, 10500 Taft Street, Pembroke Pines from noon to 3 p.m.