Patricia Jayne Malloy, of Ola, passed away August 11, 2025, at the age of 80. Pat’s “great adventure” started on February 7, 1945, in Independence, Ohio where she was born to Betty J Kubicek Malloy and Leroy F. Malloy. At the time of her birth her father was in the hospital in France due to an injury in battle during WWII. She was first born but was soon joined by her sister, Pam. Her brother, William and sister, Joan were added much later to the family, keeping her mother in PTO for nearly thirty years.
In her early years she dabbled in “girl” activities such as ballet, but by the time she was in upper elementary grades she was bribing the neighbor boys to come to the house see if they could talk her mom into letting her come out and play softball so she wouldn’t have to do dishes. She swung a mean bat and when she was the shortstop no one thought to steal a base.
Upon graduation from Independence High School in 1963, the world opened to her. She began lifeguarding, working at church and private camps during the summer as well as being very involved in Girl Scouts. She majored in Drama (not queen) at University of Mount Union in Alliance, OH. She was a member of ADP sorority and participated in basketball, volleyball and softball. She made many lifelong friends while there.
Having completed her undergraduate work, she enrolled in Bowling Green University in Ohio. She completed her master’s degree in physical education in 1969. In the fall of 1969, she moved across the country to teach high school at Lompoc, California. She taught physical education and as well as coaching swimming, volleyball, basketball and tennis. She continued her work in Girl Scouts and spent summers at Camp Tecuya in California and Camp Lachenwald in Germany for military families overseas. She also chaperoned girls to the Olympics in Munich in 1972 and escorted a group of girls to Japan.
In 1977, she was ready for a change of scenery, so she applied and was hired at Central Washington University to teach physical education and recreation classes. She was head coach for women’s swimming. She had a recreation class on a campout near Mt. St Helens when it erupted in 1980. In these busy years she started honing her skills as a whitewater river rafter. She began to confidently run some of the best rivers in the Northwest and California.
After three years at CWU she took a job with Lacy Parks in Olympia, WA where she was a recreation supervisor primarily working with swimming activities as well as activities for disabled individuals. She also became a whitewater river guide working most weekends. She ran the best and most technical rivers in Washington and Oregon. She even did an eagle watch floats in the middle of the winter! Brrr! In 1986, she joined a private rafting group and rafted the entire length of the Grand Canyon.” Trip of a lifetime!”, she would say. During this same period, she attempted to summit Mt Rainier twice. Each time she was turned back by weather.
In 1990, she was tired of not having her summers off, so returned to teaching. First for middle school English and then later as an elementary physical education specialist. While attending a women’s retreat at Holden Village on Lake Chelan she chose the eagle as her image of God.
That image guided her to her next adventure. She purchased a painting of eagles raising their chicks. It spoke to her of God’s support and encouragement to take risks in our lives even if it means leaving a known secure nest. In 1992, she saw a posting for a job at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho in the Kinesiology Department. They needed someone with aquatics, recreation and elementary physical education. She was the perfect match. Based on her eagle picture and a verse in John 21:15, which talks about Peter feeding and caring for the God’s sheep, she decided to sign the contract. After signing the contract, the college sent her a catalogue and on the cover was Snake River Birds of Prey for nesting eagles…confirmation of the right decision.
Pat’s tenure at NNC was busy with lifeguard training (she could still retrieve a brick from the bottom of the pool at 55years old), outdoor recreation classes included rafting, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and backpacking as well as preparing P.E. majors to teach elementary physical education. Students found her to be a kind, caring, supportive instructor with a deep faith in God. In 1996, at age 51, she rowed the Colorado River in Grand Canyon for a second time.
Ten years at NNU flew by and she retired in the spring of 2002. She immediately started planning the building of her “dream log home” in Ola Idaho. The architects, after a while, thought maybe she had too much time to work on it, especially by the fifth draft. By 2004, the cabin was done, and she had to find something to do. She did a little Cowboy Action Shooting, sporting the handle, “Rapid Shooter Ruby”. Now she finally had time to travel. Trips to Italy, Ireland, Denmark, and The Netherlands ensued as well as numerous trips stateside. She had a real desire to learn and had a keen interest in Native American Cultures and History. The sites she visited are too numerous to mention but she wore out several pairs of hiking boots in the process. Along with her travels, her desire to give back to the community took the form of being a member of the Ola Ladies Club, serving as chairman of the Ola Library Board, and being member of the Save our School Committee.
Pat is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Pamela Blair. She is survived by her brother, William Malloy (Claire) of Brooklyn, NY, her sister Joan Baiano (Giovanni) of Deruta, Italy, nephews Jason Blair of Independence, OH, Quinn Malloy (Simona) of Prague, Czechoslovakia, Fredrico Baiano of Deruta, Italy and niece Rose Hadley (Bryan) of Chicago, IL. She has several grandnieces and grandnephews as well as many special friends.
The family wishes to thank her caregivers, Aiyana Ugarriza and Shastin Mullenix, who made her stay at home possible until the last two months. Thank you also to the staff of The Cottages of Emmett, as well as Harrison’s Hospice for their care of her in her final months and days. Memorial gifts can be given to the Ola PTO Building Fund, Ola Library, Ola Community Church or Ola Ladies Club in care of Shannon Miller, 10937 Nesbitt Ln, Ola, Idaho, 83657.

Randi Marie (Ostry) Thomas, 63, of Lakeside and formerly of Cleveland, passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Stein Hospice Care Center, Sandusky, OH. Randi was a graduate of Independence High School, Class of 1978. Post graduation from Independence, Randi became an attorney and an assistant prosecutor for Cuyahoga County and the Managing Attorney of the Cleveland Office of Attorney General Mike DeWine. She was a practicing member of the Ohio Bar Association. Randi had two brothers – Ed (’73) and Ron (’77), as well as cousins – Nancy Rozak Kuthan (’73), Debra Janke Cooper (’83), Victoria Janke Mousty (’88), Jeffry Kuthan (’05), Amy Kuthan (’09), James M Cooper (’12), Kaitlyn Cooper (’14), Cynthia Cooper (’15), Grace Mousty (’19), and Joseph Mousty (’21).

Gary Gawel passed away on 7/9/25. There will be a celebration of life on Wednesday, 8/27/25, at the Independence Civic Center from 4-8pm.
Refreshments will be served. This event is where we can celebrate and remember Gary’s life by sharing stories.
Gary was involved with the Independence swim team and graduated from Independence High School (1975).
He was involved with various groups and hobbies that he loved, and he enjoyed music and living life on his own terms.
Please RSVP by email to Anthonylekan95@gmail.com