Obituary

Captain Ralph Skip Maloney: June 10, 1942–April 11, 2008

April 1, 2008 – Senior Softball-USA

Captain Ralph "Skip" Maloney passed away from cancer on April 11, 2008 peacefully at his home in Mount Vernon, WA. He was a happy soul and a very strong man who never gave up hope fighting to the end. He was born June 10, 1942, in Centralia, WA.

Skip was raised in Everett where he enjoyed playing sports with neighborhood friends at the local Boys & Girls club, eating his Grandma's cooking who lived in an apartment his father built for her in their back yard and later, cruising Colby Avenue.

At 19, he chose to follow in his father's footsteps by pursuing a career with the WA State Ferries retiring in 1992 after 30 years of service. Skip valued time with family and friends. He often welcomed his children to visit him at work. "My friends would claim they knew they were on my dad's boat because the landing was so smooth", recalls his daughter. Skip was stationed the first several years on the Mukilteo/Clinton, WA, run then served the last part of his career working as a relief Captain primarily in Anacortes, WA.

Skip's passion was softball as well as golf which he enjoyed fully in the 16 years since his retirement. He was also "Born to Ride" and enjoyed riding his Harley in the Arizona desert.

Skip was the captain of his own ship who chose to live life to the fullest. He will be greatly missed by his family and many close friends.

He is survived by his mother, Mable Maloney (KS); sister, Loretta Kasting (KS); sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Norm Ramage (AZ); companion, Gail Beacham-Picken, of Mount Vernon; daughter, Tina Maloney and son-in-law, Scott Johnson, of Everett; daughter, Jennifer Barringer, and grand-daughter MacKenzie, of Everett; son(s) Colton Maloney and Frank Gray, of Marble Mount; several nieces and a couple of nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, Captain Kenneth Maloney; and brother-in-law, Bill Kasting.

A celebration of Skip's life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Skip's name to Skagit Valley Cancer Care.

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