Mary Maloy Walker of Vineyard Haven, wife of Richard L. Walker and mother of Hamilton Walker, died Sept. 20 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was 50.

Mary was born April 10, 1957 in Denver, Colo., and was the fifth child of Bernard Francis and Patricia H. Maloy. Her family moved to Spring Lake, N.J., in 1963 where she attended St. Catherine’s Grammar School. After another family move to Washington, D.C., Mary graduated from St. Patrick’s Academy High School in 1975. She then trained to become a travel agent.

Mary worked for Travel Central in the Washington, D.C., area for several years before moving to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, in the early 1980s. Her field of work allowed her to travel extensively around the United States and abroad.

It was in St. Croix that Mary met her future husband, Richard L. (Richie) Walker of Boston, while working as a charter boat chef, waitress and travel agent. She married Richie in 1991, and moved to Vineyard Haven permanently in 1992.

Mary continued working in the travel field until her son Hamilton was born in 1997. Mary joined the Steamship Authority, working in the reservations department at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport location for 10 years. She loved the proximity to the Tennis Center, where Mary became a member and avid tennis player.

Mary brought passion, flair and great fun to her many interests which included painting, cooking, gardening, dancing and tennis. She will be remembered for her remarkable enthusiasm, storytelling and humor.

Mary was always active in charitable work and causes helping others. She and her family delivered Thanksgiving meals for Meals on Wheels. She participated in tennis matches benefiting the Vineyard House, a residential facility for people working on recovery from substance abuse. She was a member of the Good Shepherd Parish. In 2001, she assisted in organizing emergency supplies sent off-Island to New York city aiding rescue workers after the 9/11 tragedy.

Survivors include her husband of 16 years, Richard, and son Hamilton of Vineyard Haven; sisters Theresa Steffens of Washington, Mo. and Maggie McCullough of Chevy Chase, Md.; brothers Mark G. Maloy of Concord, Calif. and John Maloy of Silver Spring, Md.; sisters in law Nora Maloy of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Edith Walker of Boston; 14 nieces and nephews, three great nieces and two great nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents Bernard and Patricia along with brothers Michael and Bernard Patrick.

A memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Massasoit avenue, Oak Bluffs on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers and other gifts, Mary requested donations be made to the Vineyard House Inc., P.O. Box 4599, Vineyard Haven MA 02568.