Malaya was born on January 11, 2022, passed away peacefully in the quiet of the night on February 12, 2023. Malaya is the daughter of Dr. Joanne Lagmay and Dr. Jay King, and the sister of J. Andreas Mateo King. She is also survived by her grandparents Dr. Julie Lagmay, Tony Lagmay, Dr. Sandra Abda King, her third grandmother Luci Steinkopf, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and god parents, who are all devastated to lose her.

Malaya was a happy baby with an infectious laugh and a smile that lit up the room. She touched our lives with her beautiful and fiery personality. We loved watching her willful, silly and joyful temperament develop as she got older. She loved music– so much so that she danced before she could walk, and sang before she could talk. After an especially messy meal, she would often wipe her hands on her head until her hair stood up in a cute little mohawk. She was extremely precocious with a full set of teeth at 9 months, walked at 11 months, and would cheers with her sippy cup at 12 months. She was captivated with the stars and the moon at such a young age, and discovered the ever-fixed star outside her room every night before going to bed. She would light up in a smile whenever her parents came home from work and gave them the biggest, wettest kisses. Most of all, she loved her big brother Andreas, who could always elicit big belly laughs with his playful antics. She woke him up with a kiss, or a smack on the head, every morning.

Malaya was the light of our families’ lives. Her life was short, but it was complete. She has accomplished her purpose of filling our hearts with unimaginable and unforgettable joy, love and hope. We’ll forever miss our little angel, but we know she is watching over us all amongst the moon and stars. Fare thee well, our bright star.

Celebration of Malaya’s life will be at Grace at Fort Clarke (9325 W Newberry Rd, Gainesville, FL 32606add address) on March 4, 2023 at 2pm.