Lorraine M. (Lorraine) Maloley, 79, of Kearney passed away Sunday, November 25, 2018 at Mount Carmel Home Keens Memorial in Kearney.
She was born November 24, 1939 in Oxford, Nebraska to William and Doris (Benjamin) Lorraine. She attended school in Lexington where she graduated with the class of 1958.
Lorraine was united in marriage to Toffie T. Maloley on October 5, 1958 at the Lexington Methodist Church. Three boys were blessed to this union: Toffie “Allen”, Steve and Shawn.
Following high school, Toffie and Lorraine lived near Overton where she raised her three boys while working for Northwestern Bell and then went to work for Plectron in Overton. As many of us know, Lori was a life long student, and her love for education was re-ignited in 1977 when she began her college career while continuing to work. She earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in 1982 from Kearney State College and this was just the beginning. She did not miss a beat and continued on with pursuing her first Masters degree in Counseling and working as a Graduate Assistant for Kearney State College, she was conferred with a Masters in Education degree from Kearney State College in August of 1984. Still she had that drive for more education while working full time as a Child Protection Worker and Counselor, so off to school again and this time she brought home a Masters of Social Work from the University of Nebraska - Omaha in December 1986. With all of these accomplishments she began acquiring her certifications as a; Certified Social Worker, Certified Professional Counselor and Certified Mental Health Practitioner. She was a member and past president of Nebraska Counselor’s Association and part of the Nebraska Critical Incident Stress Management Advisory Team.
Toffie passed away on May 24, 1989. After Toffie’s death, Lorraine moved to Kearney, Nebraska to further pursue her career as a counselor where she worked at Richard Young before owning her own practice in 1991. In 2000, as a mental health practitioner Lorraine moved to Grand Island and began working at the Grand Island Veterans Affairs Medical Center. After 9/11 Lorraine volunteered with the Red Cross and worked in the area for 10 days assisting the victims and their families at the Pentagon. She also went to assist with flooding and hurricane victims, to Guam after a typhoon hit and to Puerto Rico after a hurricane. Maloley has helped so many times, she had advanced from a Red Cross technician, to a specialist to a coordinator, who oversees other helpers. In 2011, Lorraine retired and moved back to Kearney where she would live until her passing.
Lorraine enjoyed painting, knitting, weaving, shopping and loved her animals. She enjoyed horses and especially her dog "Max". She was known as a worldwide traveler. She visited six out of the seven continents and enjoyed packing her bags and going for long road trips with family and friends. Lorraine was involved in 4-H when the boys were young and always had a passion for volunteering. Family was very important and loved spending time with her grandchildren as they never left her house without some new toy, stuffed animal, or a book.
Survivors include her three sons, Toffie “Allen” of Kearney, Nebraska, Steve (Terrie) of Kearney, Nebraska and Shawn (Rita) of Geneva, Nebraska; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with one on the way; god daughters, Kim (Scott) Olson of Minden, Nebraska & Drucilla Goldsmith of Phoenix, Arizona; brothers-in-law, Nimir (Margo) Maloley of Kearney, Nebraska, John (Mary) Maloley of Lexington, Nebraska and Joe (Linda) Maloley of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters-in-law: Victoria Salem of Kearney, Nebraska, Waunda Maloley of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Joyce (Gary) Spellman of Minden, Nebraska; as well as nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers-in-law, Shibble, Faud, Zickie and Andy Maloley and sisters-in-law, Leenda Liakos and Sadie Malooley.
Funeral Services will be on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Pastor Anne Gahn, officiating.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 from 5-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.
Memorials are suggested to Kearney Humane Society or M.O.N.A.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
