Mary Malone, 90, died on Monday, May 24, 2021 at Share Medical Center in Alva, Oklahoma. She was born May 25, 1930 to Alta Marie (Moore) and Paul Oswald Weidner on the family homestead in northeastern Haskell County. Mary attended Jean country school in her early years and then graduated from Sublette High School in 1948. She continued her education at Fort Hays State University where she met her future husband at the first school dance. She and Robert Eldon “Bob” Malone courted all through college and married on December 29th, 1950 at the Sublette Christian Church.
Mary enjoyed the physical exercise of swimming and working in her garden. Her reward came in the spring when she reveled in the beauty of the flowers she had dutifully labored over. Later in life she took painting lessons, developing a skill which quickly became a favorite pastime. These paintings have become cherished treasures for her family members.
Mary and Bob enjoyed traveling and sightseeing together. Their explorations took them to places across the United States and different parts of Europe. Mary was always ready for a new adventure! When Bob’s job moved the family to Beaver, Oklahoma, Mary was eager to find new friends and she met many through a local Bridge group. Bob and Mary both took great pleasure in socializing with friends while playing Bridge.
The Malone family often enjoyed large family dinners with Mary’s siblings, their spouses and children. Mary delighted in cooking for her family regardless of if it was her immediate family or the extended group which often congregated in one another’s homes. Working together, the three couples raised their children cooperatively; kids continuously bounced from one home to another, laughing, eating and playing. Discipline, love and nourishment were provided to all the cousins by all of the parents. Not only do Mary’s children have fond memories of her from these times, but so do her nieces and nephews.
She is survived by her children; a daughter; Janet Kay Cook and husband, Scott, of Alva, OK; two sons, Michael Jay Malone and wife, Teresa, of Great Bend, KS, and Robert Mitchel Malone and wife, Mary Ann, of Weatherford, OK; grandchildren, Heather Jantz and husband Aaron Albers of Montezuma, KS, Aaron Jantz and wife Liz of Montezuma, KS, Nathan Malone and wife Staci of Overland Park, KS, Tara Pool and husband Josh of Colorado Springs, CO, Rob Malone and wife Ashley of Lee Summit, MO, Ashley Cook of O’Fallon, MO, Dustin Cook and wife Rebecca of Blue Springs, MO, Natasha Rogers and husband Logan of Weatherford, OK, and Joshua Malone of Hennessy, OK; great-grandchildren, Gwen, and Sloan Jantz, Miller and Hudson Jantz, Carter and Chase Malone, Madeline, Lucy, and Ella Pool, Reese, Marin, and Kellan Malone, Rowen and Ellie Cook, and Bailyn, and Kyson Rogers; and a brother-in-law, Walt Loucks of Phoenix, AZ.
She is preceded by her husband, Robert Eldon Malone; a daughter, Camella Sue Jantz; a sister, Thelma Loucks; a brother, Paul Weidner, and sister-in-law, Gertrude Weidner.
Memorial Service will be 11:00 am on Saturday, June 5, at the Sublette United Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Haskell County Cemetery at a later date. Cremation has taken place.
Suggested memorial contributions may be written to the Barton County Historical Society or the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo in care of Weeks Family Funeral Home & Crematory, PO Box 1200, Sublette, Ks 67877. Condolences may be left online at WeeksFamilyFuneralHome.com.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Weeks Family Funeral Home
P.O. Box 1200
Sublette, KS 67877
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 30, 2021
