Thursday, Nov. 13, Winona and Kilmichael Communities said their farewells to an outstanding individual during funeral processions. Shawn Timothy Malone Jr., known as Tim to most, tragically passed away following an automobile accident on Nov. 8. Malone was employed at Biewer Lumber in Winona until his passing. He was also a member of the Kilmichael Volunteer Fire Department and a parishioner of Bethlehem Baptist Church at the time of his passing. Tim was a father, a brother, a son, and a friend to many and will be remembered as such. However, above all else, Tim was a follower of Christ and could be known by his fruits.
Tim was a long-time resident of Kilmichael who sought to fill the needs in his community wherever he may have found one.
“I’ve known him since he was a boy - he was a good guy. He came to the fire department two, maybe three years ago and he just wanted to help out some. He was very eager to learn, very eager to do for anybody,” Kilmichael VFD Chief David Eldridge stated in an interview.
“That was pretty much his forte. He just wanted to help. And he did that,” Chief Eldridge added.
He went on to say that while Malone was with them, he was an asset to the Kilmichael VFD and will be greatly missed among their ranks.
“We hate to lose anybody and we [especially] hate to lose those who care and want to do better for their community - and I feel like that was Tim,” Chief Eldridge noted finally.
In a post on the official Kilmichael VFD Facebook page, the organization emphasized the importance of Tim’s contribution as Firefighter 218, stating that he was dedicated to serving and protecting the Kilmichael community with “courage and compassion.”
Outside of his volunteer work as a firefighter, Tim was well beloved among friends and family for many of the attributes which led him to that work, most notably his selflessness and considerate nature.
“Me and him met when we were little kids. When I [was growing] up, if you played inside too long your parents kicked you out to go play outside in the woods or go play out in the yard or something, they didn’t want you inside all the time. Well I was sitting out in my dad’s carport playing a video game and I just had some random kid standing behind me - he was walking down the road and saw me playing a video game so he just walked up into the yard and started playing the video game with me. Didn’t know who he was,” Childhood friend and pall bearer Jeffrey Hunt reminisced on his meeting with Malone.
“He was one of those people that was always interested in stuff but at the same time always wanted people to laugh and smile. Like, if you were sad he was the one to crack a joke to get you to laugh. If you needed something he would give the shirt off his back to help you,” Hunt described Malone’s nature.
Hunt went on to say that Malone was a part of his found family and was much like a brother to him. He explained that many times Malone had personally witnessed to him, wanting Hunt to come with him to his church. Malone exemplified his faith through his actions as a caring and supportive individual.
“I know he was loved by a lot of people and I know he’ll be missed by a lot of people,” Hunt stated.
Malone held fast to Jesus' command from Matthew 5:42, “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
