Harriette King Maloney

Harriette King Maloney, RN passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026, at the age of 89. She was born in Nashville, TN, on July 7, 1936, to William Nelson Marlin, Jr. and Sara Phillips Marlin. Harriette became the stepdaughter of Gerald King when he and her mother married in 1945. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Donald Lee Maloney, two sons, Donald “Donnie” Lee Maloney, Jr., and Alan Beckham Maloney and sister, Leah Elizabeth Flowers of Fort Worth, Texas. She is survived by two sons, David Maloney (Gayle) and Andy Maloney (Lee Ann); grandchildren, Anna Katherine Maloney (Luca Bonini), Matthew Maloney (Ruobing “Joyce” Zhang), and Parker Maloney; great granddaughter Eva Bonini, brothers Jerry (Judy) King of Hendersonville, Tennessee and Jimi King of Boston, and many nieces and nephews.

Harriette was a Nashville native and a graduate of West High School in the class of 1954. Harriette remained lifelong friends with many in the West High Class of ’54 and enjoyed their monthly lunches that continue today. In high school, she met the love of her life and her husband of 67 years Don Maloney of Nashville, who attended BGA (’54). Following graduation, they were married on November 27, 1954, and enjoyed a not-so-warm honeymoon in Chicago – in November.

Harriette began her career as a homemaker, raising her four boys for the first 20 years of her marriage. Inspired by a childhood neighbor, Harriette decided to go to nursing school and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). While working fulltime as an LPN, she graduated at the top of her class from Tennessee State University (TSU) and received her Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing becoming a Registered Nurse (RN). Family legend has it that she scored the highest score in the state on her nurse licensing exam. As an RN, Harriette worked at St. Thomas Hospital (West) in outpatient surgery for more than 20 years until she retired from nursing in 2003.

At just over five feet tall, Harriette was a strong and determined little woman earning her the nickname “Secretary of War” from Don. She was a proud Nashvillian, Tennessean, Southerner, and American, which was reflected in her interests after retirement. Harriette served as President of the Franklin Road Jaycettes. She was registrar for the Wiliam Lee Davidson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a member of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812, a Board Member of the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, Tennessee, and a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).

Harriette was a long-time member of both Crievewood Baptist Church and ClearVew Baptist Church. Less than a week following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Harriette joined other volunteers of the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief Team and spent a week in New York feeding workers at Ground Zero.

Harriette and Don were season ticket holders of the University of Tennessee football program for more than 25 years. She was always eager to talk about UT football and all of the Manning quarterbacks including the most recent one at “the other UT”.

Harriette was a loving wife and partner to Don and loving mother to her four boys, and a loving and caring grandmother, great grandmother, big sister, aunt, cousin, and “second mother” to many. She valued her long-term relationships from West High School and The Cedar Creek Club. She was a Christian woman who is now home with her Lord and will be missed by those from whom she is no longer in sight.

Pallbearers are Jeremy King, Jamie King, Brandon King, Chris Batson, Jay King, and Sam Moran. The Family extends their heartfelt thanks to Jonathan McGill, RN, Lori McConnell, RN, and the Somerfield Health Center team at The Heritage in Brentwood for their compassionate care.

Visitation will be at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204, Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. A memorial service will follow visitation at 1:30pm with a graveside service to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Tennessee Kidney Foundation, the the Alzheimer’s Association: Middle Tennessee - Nashville, or the Gen. William Lee Davidson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).