Marilyn I "Mimi" Maloney

Marilyn Irene (Wood) Maloney Hoffman, age 73, died at her home in Baker, Florida, on July 2, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer.  She passed peacefully, surrounded by family and friends.

The oldest of eight siblings, Marilyn was born in Orlando, Florida on December 10, 1946 to the late Lionel M. Wood Jr. and Evelyn Lucille Duvall Wood.  The daughter of a military service member, Marilyn grew up traveling extensively across the United States and overseas. She graduated high school in 1964 from Lompoc High School in Lompoc, California.  In 1982, she graduated from Okaloosa Walton Junior College in Niceville, Florida, with an AA degree in Education.

Affectionately known by her friends and family as “Mimi”, Marilyn was a leader among leaders -- always in service to others.  She loved children and teaching, and is most fondly remembered for how these interactions raised, nurtured, guided, and touched so many lives. She was generously involved in home foster and emergency shelter care, which ultimately lead to the opening of her one-of-a-kind Maloney Family Home Child Care.

Marilyn’s many other interests included leadership and volunteerism with the Niceville-Valparaiso Women’s Club, Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, The Okaloosa Country Republican’s Club, The Domestic Violence Shelter House, The American Legion, Okaloosa County’s Sheriff Office Posse, The Red Hat Society, The Silver Threads Dance Troupe, the Girl and Boy Scouts of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, Rocky Bayou Christian School’s Foreign Exchange Student Program, Okaloosa-Walton County Child Care Services, and a founding member of the Home Day Care Association of Florida.

Marilyn is survived by her husband and best friend, Bruce Phillip Hoffman; daughters Debora Kathleen (Maloney) Cain and Susan Denise (Maloney) Hammond (husband Max); sons Robert Peter Maloney Jr. and James Kevin Maloney (wife Cindy); granddaughters, Denise Adian (Cain) Gayle, Lauren Ashley (Maloney) McDaniel, Kiera Michelle Hammond Merriweather, Avary Irene (Hammond) Tennant and Zoey Evelyn Kathleen Cain; a grandson, Aaron Carl Cain; and a great-grandson Aidan Joseph Gayle.

Marilyn is also survived by her brothers--Edmund “Butch” Clark Wood, Kenneth Howey Wood (Rhonda), and Michael James Wood (Cindi); sisters Cathy Eloise McNutt (Phillip), Beverly Florence Wilburn (Marcus) and preceded in death by her beloved brother, Robert MacTernan Wood.  She is also survived by nieces and nephews, some of whom saw her as a second mother; Nephews--Daniel Eugene Wood, Christopher Ralph Baggett (Maria), William Jason Baggett (Bridget), Ryan Patrick McNutt, Travis Clark Wilburn (Tiffany), Robert Logan Wilburn (Hannah), Douglas Jude Ehrhard; great nephews, Timothy Eugene Wood, Joshua Edward Wood,Cody Lee Hinesley, Wilson Gaines Wilburn, Elijah Cole Anderson, Grayson Philip Baggett, and Colin Andrew Baggett. Nieces--Andrea Michelle Trentman, Amanda Evelyn Wood, Rachel Wilburn Anderson (Colby),Sammy Jo Fannin (Perry) and Skye Beth Marie Lowrey; great nieces Ellie Kathryn Anderson, Lorena Rose Hinesley, Autumn Marie Johnson, and Brooklyn Nichole Heglund.

.The family would like to express sincerest gratitude to Emerald Coast Hospice -- especially Ms. Deena and Emily Ann -- for their genuine love of our mother and dedication to her comfort and care.

A Funeral service will be held at Heritage Gardens Funeral Home in Niceville, Florida on Friday, July 10, at 3:00 PM with visitation beginning at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow in Heritage Gardens Cemetery.  For those observing COVID-19 self-quarantine protocol, the service will also be live-streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mimi.maloney.58.

A reception immediately following:

SRO (Standing Room Only) located at 339 W. John Simms Pkwy, Niceville, FL. 32579

Where a celebration of such a wonderful life can continue by sharing of memories and laughter.