OWLS HEAD - Makayla Lucy O’Hara-Damon, age 12, passed away peacefully July 13, 2018, at home, surrounded by her Nannie, Deborah McMahan Damon and her nurses, Shannon Brady Franklin, Carol Ann Leach and Karen Jackson, her special aunt Sheila Salo Polky, and her special friends Melinda Polky and Terri Hallowell. Makayla was born to Kristina Winchenbach and Michael O’Hara, Jr., on April 7, 2006.  

Makayla was a special little girl raised by her Nannie, Deborah McMahan Damon, who adopted her and her brother, Mikey, in 2010. Her Nannie loved her unconditionally and fought many battles for her. Makayla was born with Cerebral Palsy, Cortical Blindness, Scoliosis, Global Developmental Delays and Quadriplegia. She fought a battle with her Nannie by her side for 12 years, but lost that battle Friday morning. 

When people met Makayla, she touched their hearts forever. Her brother Mikey enjoyed calling her Sissy and making her laugh.  He loved to read her books while she was in her chair or in her bed.  Her big brother Tyler liked to hold and take care of her when she was a baby, forming a life-long special bond.  Makayla loved listening to music and audio books and being read to by her tutors, Marion Mitchell and Deborah Northgraves and her cousins, Searra and Baylee Tolman Hansen.

She loved going outside on the back deck and sitting in the sun listening to the birds chirp, dogs bark, and planes fly overhead. She liked going for walks in her wheelchair feeling the breeze on her face and listening to the noises around her. Makayla especially loved hearing her Daddy’s voice when he came to see her, her head would turn to wherever he stood, Daddy called her his ‘Maybear’.  Her mother used to braid her hair so beautifully, and she also called her Maybear.  She loved having baths, and having her hair braided in so many different ways.  She was the light of her Nannie’s life. 

Many people touched Makayla’s life no matter where we were, whether it was at the park, the zoo, the library, school, the Doctors’ offices or hospital stays, she was blessed to have met everyone and have them on her team. Makayla even tried a special program riding a horse, which put a smile on her face.  Although life was often hard, she was surrounded by people who loved her dearly. 

No matter who came through the door they would always walk over to say ‘Hi’ to Makayla and sometimes to just hold her hand. When someone had a rough day Nannie would say “Think of my Angel, and think again.” She truly was an inspiration; she was beautiful inside and out in many ways. Nannie’s Angel is now watching over everyone. 

She was predeceased by her brother Ashton O’Hara; her uncle Casey Tolman; grandfather Herbert Damon; great-grandmother Marion McMahan; and great-grandfather Robert O’Hara, Sr.  She is survived by her Nannie, Deborah McMahan Damon of Owls Head; her brothers, Tyler Simmons of Waldoboro, Mikey O’Hara-Damon of Owls Head; her sisters, Delaney and Sunny Chase of Fairhaven, MA, Paisley Dewick of Rockport; uncle and aunt Dale and Kelsey Gringeri Damon of Owls Head; great-grandfather Donald E. McMahan and his wife Judy McMahan of South Thomaston; great-grandmother Jean Porter O’Hara of Owls Head; grandfather Michael O’Hara, Sr. of Rockland; Grampie Charlie Hinton of Owls Head; cousins Searra and Baylee Tolman of Spruce Head; grandfather Dale Winchenbach; grandmother Deborah Robbins, aunts, Chasity and Elisa Robbins; uncles Harley and Dale Winchenbach of Waldoboro; and many great uncles, great aunts and cousins.  

A celebration of love and remembrance will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.  The Reverend Robert Vallaincourt will officiate.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ronald McDonald House, 250 Brackett Street, Portland, ME 04102.  

To share a memory or condolence with Makayla’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.