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Thomas Owen Malone was born May 2, 1934 in Ruth, Nevada to Helen and Tom Malone.  He attended Ruth Grade School and ultimately graduated from White Pine County High School in 1952.  He attended the University of Utah for two years.  While on break from school, Tom met the love of his life, Eleanor Apodaca.  They married on August 1, 1956.  A mere four days later, Tom was drafted and reported to duty in the United States Army.  After basic training, Tom and Eleanor moved to San Pedro, California where he reported to active duty.  After actively serving for two years, Tom and Eleanor, and their infant daughter Denise, moved to San Mateo, California.  It was here that Tom began his apprenticeship in plumbing, and they welcomed their second daughter, Maureen.  Tom was honorably discharged from the Army on July 31, 1962.

In 1964, with their two girls, Tom and Eleanor moved back to Nevada, settling in Reno.  Tom worked as a journeyman plumber and pipefitter as a member of the U.A. Local 350, Plumbers, Pipefitters and Service Technicians.  In 1969, Tom and Eleanor welcomed their son, Tom, and three years later, their daughter, Molly.

Family and fun were always the guiding principles in Tom’s life.  Often called the life of the party, he enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends.  He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He spent many hunts throughout central Nevada with great friends and family.  He received an honorable mention in Boone and Crockett Club trophy records for his antelope.  His lifetime favorite hunt, however, was when he harvested his elk with his son Tom.  That elk, affectionately named “Elmo” by Tom’s grandson Eric, his antelope and other heads are proudly displayed in Tom and Eleanor’s home.

Tom enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports and attended every game or meet that he could. He retired in 1996, and thereafter would often say “every day is Saturday!” loudly and proudly.  Tom and Eleanor spent time pursuing their hobbies and traveling mostly to visit their children and grandchildren or friends and family back in Ely, Nevada, but also making time for a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands.

Tom was a great man with an easy smile and he will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his wife Eleanor, daughters Denise Goddard (Norman), Maureen Kalinski (Bob), and Molly Rezac (Pete), son Tom Malone (Sunshine), and grandchildren Gillian Goddard, Jenna Goddard, Amy Harris (Matt), Ruffin Kalinski, Kyla Kalinski, Eric Rezac and Madeleine Rezac.  Also surviving are his sisters Colleen Hulbert and Mary Malone as well as many loved cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 2:00 pm at Walton’s Sierra Chapel, 875 West Second Street in Reno.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to either the Food Bank of Northern Nevada or the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Arrangements under the direction of Walton Funeral Home in Reno.