Gary Lee Maloney

Gary Lee Maloney—beloved husband, father, faithful Catholic, psychotherapist, United States Army Vietnam Veteran and 1st Lieutenant—peacefully entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the age of 81, at the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire, KS.

Gary was born November 4, 1944, in Casper, Wyoming, the son of Walter Leo and Betty May (Opfer) Maloney. On March 2, 1968, Gary was united in marriage to Sandra Ann Hawthorne in El Dorado, KS. He enlisted in the US Army in 1967 and was commissioned as an officer in the US Army Infantry. He deployed to Vietnam on Dec 13, 1968, and was stationed in Long Binh, where he earned a Bronze Star in the 95th Military Police Battalion. Following his honorable discharge in 1969, Gary entered Emporia State University, where he earned a master’s degree in psychology in 1975.

For 31 years, Gary served as a state-licensed Master Level Psychologist at Comcare Mental Health Center in Wichita until his retirement in 2005. He was also a certified Reality Therapist, having been trained by the organization's founder, Dr. William Glasser. Gary also worked in substance abuse and community mental health centers, conducted workshops in school, hospital, and university settings, and proudly provided counseling for people at local Catholic Churches. Even after retirement, he maintained a private counseling practice and spent one year at the VA Veterans Center in Wichita, where he loved counseling and being of service to those in need.

Gary loved his family, was a man of deep faith to God and the Catholic Church, firmly believed in service to others, and made sure to have fun every day. His Catholic faith was central to his life, guiding his commitment to service and his desire to support others in his community. This dedication was especially evident throughout his long career as a psychotherapist and counselor, where he guided countless individuals toward greater mental health and personal accountability. He and his beautiful wife, Sandee, shared a lifetime of joy, often found dancing together, a testament to their enduring and playful love. Gary possessed a tremendous zest for life, which fueled his active hobbies, including running (where he completed multiple marathons), bicycling, and the thrill of water skiing and barefoot skiing. Above all, he cherished every moment spent with family and friends.

Gary is survived by his wife, Sandee, of the home; son Travis of Westminster, CO; and his younger brother, Mike, and wife Mary Maloney of El Dorado, KS; and three nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Derek Maloney.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Resurrection Catholic Church in Bel Aire. The family invites relatives and friends to join them for lunch at the church following the mass. Rosary recitation will be held at 6:00 P.M., Friday, at the church with visitation time to follow, concluding at 8:00 P.M. Refreshments will be provided. Cremation will be effected following the service with a graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery in Eureka to be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Veterans Administration Voluntary Service (RJDVAMC VAVS). Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.