Tony Malk of Bakersville, North Carolina, passed away in his home, surrounded by the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and family, on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Born on August 19, 1971, he was only 52 years old. Our hearts are broken.

Beginning in our first home on Crestview Trail in Byron, Illinois, gardening was one of Tony’s favorite hobbies. His garden grew in size over the years from a small garden in a small back yard, to a larger garden in a larger backyard on Fieldcrest Drive, to the gardens he built himself in his North Carolina homes. He loved growing burgundy bush beans, Cherokee purple tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables to bring to his family’s table. His goal was to grow his organic gardens, at Malkin in the Mountains, big enough to feed more than just his family and friends.

Just like the plants in his gardens, Tony cared for his family as if he were watering them to grow. He supported and encouraged all of our ambitions and dreams in every stage of our lives. From being a baseball coach then a baseball dad through the years, he supported Tyler in all of his athletic goals, including being a baseball short-stop and body building. He encouraged Cassidy to chase her dreams, despite how short lived some of them were, and he moved her to Colorado as soon as he could. He encouraged Abbey to search her soul and discover herself among the trees in the Appalachian Mountains, during her trail work, hiking, and backpacking quests. He loved being our concert dad, baseball dad, campground dad, and dog dad, but he loved seeing his kids’ and wife grow and prosper more.

He was a precision grinder in Rockford, Illinois, before finding his dream job at Mount Mitchell State Park near Burnsville, North Carolina. He worked in maintenance and as an office assistant there for several years after moving to North Carolina with his wife, Abbey. While working at the state park, one of Tony’s roles was to drive a shuttle from the parking lot to the top of the mountain so that people in need of assistance could see the beauty that Mount Mitchell had to offer. In lieu of flowers, please donate to NC High Peaks Trail Association (https://nchighpeaks.org/node/…) to support trail maintenance at his beloved Mount Mitchell State Park.

We will be hosting a private Celebration of Life to remember his infectious smile on September 23 in North Carolina. Let's wear tie dyes to honor and celebrate Tony.

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