Kathryn Louise Malone

Kathryn Louise Malone, age 77, of Taylors, SC, and formerly of Blairsville, GA, passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. A persistent woman, with a natural gift for administration and organization, Kathy leaves a legacy of compassion and the ability to use her grit and determination to create awareness and a call to action for a multitude of worthy causes and nonprofit issues, many of which were born out of her own grief and loss.

After the tragic death of her son Lance in 1995 in a motorcycle accident, Kathy became a motorcycle awareness advocate, distributing more than 1-million purple bumper stickers reading “Look Twice. Save a Life. Motorcycles are Everywhere.” Through this work, she received Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue’s recognition from the State Department of Highway Safety.

She was also involved in The Compassionate Friends of the United States (TCF), a support group for grieving parents, following the death of a child. A frequent speaker on grief and recovery, having lost three of her own children, Kathy presented at regional, national, and international conferences as well as Argosy University. Along with her husband Patrick, of nearly 55 years, she co-chaired the 2001 National TCF Conference, and together they were awarded the Simon Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kathy’s remarkable combination of tough exterior and soft heart made her especially gifted in her 14-year volunteer role as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for foster children, as part of the Enotah Judicial Circuit for CASA. Her love of children also led her to be the driving force, along with Union County Sole Commissioner Lamar Paris, for the creation of the Children’s Memorial Garden in Meeks Park, the crown jewel of the Blairsville-Union County Recreation Department.

Born September 5, 1945, in Baltimore, MD, she began her young adult life in Cleveland, OH, where she met her husband Pat, while working together at the American Greetings company in the late 1960’s. After a volatile courtship, they decided the best way to resolve their differences was to get married. Eventually, Pat would convince her to move to Georgia, by way of Detroit, in 1976, but only if he promised her a pool and a horse.

They built a life and family together in Georgia. Pat made good on his pool promise at their first home in Lilburn, then on his horse promise, just two short years later, when they moved to Snellville to a home with plenty of acreage. No matter what city they lived in, Pat and Kathy have always invested heavily in their community. While living in Gwinnett County, they were founding members of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Kathy was also a pioneer in the residential homebuilding market in the north metro-Atlanta area in the late 1970s-to-mid-1980’s, with over 100 homes completed by her company KLM Construction.

When she was not busy running a company, raising boys, volunteering, or running a daycare out of her own home for neighbors, Kathy enjoyed her hobby of showing Tennessee Walking Horses in competitions throughout the southeast, including, The Celebration, in Shelbyville, TN. An avid horse woman, she showed and owned horses for nearly 40 years. Additional hobbies included playing and coaching soccer, painting, and supporting her children and grandchildren in all their activities from sports to cheer and dance competitions.

Kathy is survived by her husband Patrick “Pat” Malone, her sons Bryan (Michelle) of Taylors, SC, and Sean (Jennifer) of Jefferson, GA, grandson Devin, and granddaughters Shannah, Riley, Barbara, and Megan. Kathy was preceded in death by her sons Lance and Scott, daughter Erin and parents William and Gladys Gent.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 4 p.m. at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 823 Forge Mill Rd Morganton, GA 30560.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Enotah CASA at www.enotahcasa.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Malone family.