Jason Malone

Jason Shawn Malone, known affectionately as "Jay Jay," "J Dawg," or "J Bird" to friends and family, stepped into the arms of his Savior on March 16, 2026. Born in Clinton, NC, on April 15, 1977, and raised in Saltillo, Mississippi, Jason was a humble and loyal guy from the south who embraced life with enthusiasm and a heart full of love. He was a 1995 graduate of Saltillo High School, completed a single semester at Ole Miss before transferring to the University of Northern Alabama, where he completed his bachelor's degree in 2003. Jason was the life of the party, and a friendly face to all. He was known to regularly stop in the grocery store and spend hours there because he was making friends with strangers and buying 20 extra items that were NOT on his shopping list. His radiant spirit and infectious smile will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.

A Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, Jason served his country with dignity and honor, including 39 total months of active combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning three Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, and four Army Achievement Medals during his illustrious career. He was most proud of upholding the family legacy, becoming a third generation 82nd Airborne paratrooper. He was a highly respected leader who earned the trust of his soldiers, creating life-long bonds he carried until his last day.

Jason was a parishioner of South Tampa Fellowship Church. He started his faith journey at the age of 6, attending church multiple days a week with his parents and grandparents. He was intentionally working on growing his faith and walk with God, and he was an adamant believer in Jesus Christ and the power of prayer.

In his leisure time, Jason, a man of many talents and interests, could be found strumming his guitar, writing songs, absorbed in a good book, or enjoying nature's beauty. He was an avid fisherman, runner, golfer, and loved scuba diving. Jason had an adventurous palate, enjoying unusual delights like eating Whoppers in the morning before a run or eating pickles and jalapeños as a midnight snack. He considered himself a Pizza connoisseur, akin to Dave Portnoy, not picky about whether it's hot or cold. But what mattered most to him was spending time with his beloved family and his bougie dog, Kody.

Before anything, though, Jason was a deeply devoted father to his three children. He always told the best stories and gave the best advice…sometimes too much advice. Despite being a "fixer," the kids always knew their dad's intentions were pure and he was ALWAYS available to them. No matter the hour, no matter the problem, he showed up with patience, humor, and a strength that made everything feel manageable. And while they didn't always need a solution, they always needed him, and he never failed to be there.

Jason is survived by his parents, Steve (Tammy) Malone and Terri (My Jim) Kirkpatrick; his daughters, Hanna and Bre Malone; his son, Isaac Malone; his brothers, Zack Malone, Matt Malone, and Tyler Kidd; his nephew, Fisher Malone, his role model, Aunt Lesa Phillips; his Uncle, Neal (Stephanie) Melvin, his former spouse, Cheryl Malone; his fiancé, Katie Evans; and his faithful, furry companion, Kody.

A visitation for Jason will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10:00 am at the South Tampa Fellowship Ballast Point Campus, 5101 Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa, Florida, 33611, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am at the same location. A Committal Service with Military Honors will be held at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL, 33513, at 2:00 pm on the same day.

In lieu of flowers, you are encouraged to donate to Jason's two major passions, the military community and preserving nature: the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) at https://www.dav.org/ways-to-give/ or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) at https://appalachiantrail.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/.

We invite everyone to share their memories of Jason and upload photos to the memorial page. It's in sharing these stories and images that we keep his spirit alive within us. Let us celebrate the life of this loving, humble, loyal, and thoughtful man, with a heart of gold, and a captivating smile who touched our lives in countless ways.