Sheila Anne Watson Maloney

January 27, 1944 - August 24, 2021

Sheila Anne Maloney died peacefully on August 24, 2021, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the home of her son. Sheila was born on January 27, 1944, at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. to Capt. LeRoy H. Watson, Jr. and Sheila Louise Ball Watson. The Watsons lived on air force bases throughout the United States until 1959, when due to the death of their parents, Sheila and her sister Louise went to Leavenworth, Kansas, to live with their aunt, Sister Miriam Joseph a member of the Sisters of Charity, Leavenworth. Sheila and Louise were not suited to convent living, so close family friends Mel and Kim Coppinger took Sheila and Louise into their family in Kansas City, Missouri. Sheila went to St. Louis University where she met the love of her life, Philip Maloney. Sheila and Phil shared a strong sense of family and social justice, and although at one time a Jesuit novitiate, he found a different calling when he met Sheila. Sheila graduated in May of 1966 and married Phil a few days later. In 1975, Phil and Sheila settled with their five children in Missoula, Montana, where Phil taught at the University of Montana. During this time, Sheila raised her children, worked outside the home when she could, and kept all the Maloneys on track. Her home was always open to friends and her children’s friends, and she threw fantastic Friday afternoon and St. Patick’s Day parties. Phil passed away unexpectedly in 1998 and Sheila started a new phase in her life. She lived in Missoula, Kansas City and Memphis, spending time with her children and the ever-expanding group of grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was living in Memphis with her son and his family. Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Sheila Watson, her foster parents Mel and Kim Coppinger, numerous aunts and uncles, her sister Barbara Sullivan and her husband Phil Maloney. She is survived by her children, Max (Marlinee) and their children, Joseph, Andrew, Apiranee, and Augustine, Katie (Chris) DeSoto and their children Nick and Vanessa, Bea (Joel) Kaleva and their children Maddie, Sean, and Danny, Eileen (Jay) Quint and their child Abby, and Ruthanne (Cam) Higgins and their children Emma, Molly, and Brooke. She is also survived by her sister Louise (Larry) Welling, her brother Tom (Ginny) Coppinger, her sister in law, Patricia (Rick) Slavens and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Sheila was always an animal lover. If you feel inclined to honor her and her family, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Memphis or Missoula Humane Society or the animal shelter of your choice. A celebration of life will be held on October 2, 2021, in Missoula. Details will follow.