The Life of Perrynell McGregor McMahon

On Thursday, June 18, 2020, age 77. Beloved mother of Khrys Xavier Myrddin of Pittsburgh. Born in Shadyside on December 12, 1942 to Nell Katheryn (MacGregor) and Perry Reed McMahon, both deceased, Perrynell grew up and spent her life in Pittsburgh’s East End, attending The Ellis School and Peabody High School. An only child, she adopted childhood friends Gilbert Venable (deceased) and Jay Carson as her brothers. She was athletically gifted and particularly loved ice skating. She had an eye for beautiful things and studied interior design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Perrynell was a vivacious and social person who enjoyed hosting parties and cooking with her friends. She cared deeply about people and animals and couldn’t stand the idea of anyone going hungry. She was well-known to neighbors from her yard sales and walking her beloved Italian greyhounds. She loved music, particularly jazz and Celtic. She was proud of her Scottish heritage and was able to visit the country in 2014. She spent the last few years of her life in assisted living as dementia stole her from herself and her loved ones. Near the end, she benefited greatly from the superb care and compassion of the staff of Gateway Hospice. She died peacefully in the early hours of Thursday, June 18, 2020.  A piper played as her body was laid to rest in a private service at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park in Penn Hills.

The family would deeply appreciate reading your stories and memories on the Tribute Wall. In lieu of flowers, donations in Perrynell’s memory can be made to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Humane Animal Rescue, or the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh.