Father of eight credits family, transplant for a long, full life
By Lisa Singleton-Rickman | The Times Daily, Florence, Alabama

At the age of 81, John Malone shows no signs of slowing down.

The Muscle Shoals resident and longtime business owner says at his age, he can’t afford to. So, with the help of his eight children, all of whom live locally and range in age from 39 to 60, he keeps at it — farming daily from 5 a.m. until sunset and overseeing the family business, Malone’s Produce, that has been a mainstay in Colbert County for more than 40 years.

For 22 years, the business was on Woodward Avenue in Muscle Shoals.

After a fire destroyed the building, the family moved the business to Sheffield, where it stayed for another 15 years until the family moved it to Malone’s home on Louise Avenue in Muscle Shoals.

Malone’s children describe him as a man who loves deeply and is loved in return.

“He’s been a phenomenal example for all of us,” said Sandy Holden, one of his five daughters. “He’s our backbone, the rock of this family. Even when he was down, he was the stabilizing force in this family.”

So today, the family is celebrating, a continuation of a monthlong celebration in his honor. His birthday was Thursday, and before that came another celebration the family knows some might find strange.

It was the celebration of his liver, which is now 32 years old.

Malone received a liver transplant June 4, 1998. The family has never met the donor, but knows he was 19 years old and, like John, was a farmer.

“All we know is that he was an outdoors person, my daddy to a tee,” Holden said. “And we know he donated other organs, too. Dad and the rest of our family take every opportunity to spread the word about organ donation. It’s the least we can do for that boy’s family. They suffered a terrible loss.”

Malone became ill in 1996 and went into the hospital to have a hernia removed. That was when the surgeon found spots on his liver. At 67, Malone, needed a transplant, and fast.

With his family fearing his age would go against him on a transplant list, they waited. Malone’s overall health worsened and he lost weight. But he never lost his spirit.

“The doctors told us afterward that his age wasn’t a factor because he was strong from years of hard work and he loved life and they knew he’d never give up,” Holden said. “In fact, after he got his transplant, doctors had him talking to other transplant patients who were struggling. He encouraged them and gave them hope, just like he has all of us, all our lives.”

Malone’s sense of humor has always been his trademark. When he learned his wife, Dorothy, was expecting their eighth child, someone asked him if he preferred a boy or a girl.

“I looked at that guy and said, ‘I have four girls and three boys, so I don’t care if I get a tiebreaker or not.’ ”

Though he takes his liver transplant seriously, he’s amused by his liver’s birthday party.

“It was a doozy, with 37 people there,” he said. “They surprised me. We all celebrated that thing continuing to work and keep me alive. It’s been 13 years since the transplant, and I don’t take that time for granted. That’s why I’m determined to keep at it every day. I rest for a few hours in the day — the doctor makes me. But when I get up, I’m right back out there.”

Malone has 27 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. At any given time, he’ll have grandchildren working with him on his Colbert County properties where he gardens.

Malone’s oldest son, John Wayne, owns the Tomato House in Florence, which is supplied by Malone’s gardens.

“We’re all in this together, and it’s been a good life,” Holden said. “My dad loves it and won’t ever let it go.”

Malone jokes that with such a young liver, he may just live long enough to keep up the business another three or four decades. And that’s fine with the family.

“We’re a close family and we keep each other going, but daddy keeps us all motivated,” said Penny Sanderson, his youngest daughter.

Malone said if given the option to live his life over again, he would everything the same. He said he’d have the same children and he would celebrate their uniqueness and revel in their close family bond.

“When people meet this bunch of ours, oh Lord,” he laughed. “We have a good time together. My joy is in seeing people happy. That’s how I’ve tried to live my life, cheering others up. It’s been a good life and I expect there to be plenty more of it.”