Mar. 17, 1923 - Nov. 12, 2015
Date of Service: Nov. 21, 2015
Clarice Emma Brady Toner
March 17, 1923 - Nov. 12, 2015
BURLEY – Clarice Emma Brady Toner, 92, passed away at Highland Estates Assisted Living in Burley, Idaho, on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015.
Clarice was born March 17, 1923, in Winner, S.D., the daughter of Oliver Border and Nellie Myrtle Lefler Brady. She was the youngest of six children and was adored by all of her siblings, Ted, Bess, George, Floyd, and Hazel. This family remained very close throughout the years. Clarice moved with all of her family to Burley after the Dust Bowl and subsequent droughts that devastated their farming operation. She graduated from Burley High School with the clas of ‘41. She had met and fallen in love with a neighbor fellow, Cecil Toner, to whom she was wed on Oct. 30, 1941. To this union was born four children, Bill, David, Betty, and Darice. The family worked and played hard, enjoying many fishing and camping trips, and, how they loved family reunions with their extended family.
Mother was a very hard worker, milking cows, cleaning the barn when necessary, and helping in the harvest. She grew an enormous garden and bottled and froze the produce. Yearly, the family, along with Grandma and Grandpa Brady and Uncle Ted, had a day of “harvesting the chickens” - and were they ever plump and delicious! Very few mentioned “Clarice” without mentioning her beautiful quilts. We were all recipients of these wonderful works of art. Mother was very involved with the Home and Garden Club, the Ruth Rebekah Lodge, and the Unity Grange.
Mother and Dad enjoyed traveling together visiting Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, and several trips across the United States, where they made many lifelong friends. They maintained a home in Quartzsite, Ariz., for nearly 40 years, where they enjoyed the winter months and getting to know and learning to love the countless friends they made. During these months, they became rock hounds and silversmiths, creating beautiful jewelry; their stained and etched-glass creations were wonders to behold. Mother’s greatest pleasures revolved around her family.
Clarice is survived by her children, Bill (Dorothy) Toner of Burley, Betty (Ivan) Olsen of Clarkston, Wash., David (Susan) Toner of Burley, and Darice Okelberry of Twin Falls; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank Cecil Toner, after nearly 72 years of marriage; her siblings and their spouses, Ted (Francis) Brady, Bess (Bill) Ferguson, George (Agnus) Brady, Floyd (Eula) Brady, and Hazel (Jim) Janak; a son-in-law, Paul Okelberry; and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home.
