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Gene J. Toney, 90, peacefully passed from this life to his heavenly home on Tuesday, May 22, 2007. He was born July 3, 1916, to Sidney J. and Lula Reed Toney in Greasy Community, near Stilwell, Adair County, Oklahoma.
The family lived in and around Stilwell until he was an early teen when they moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Gene married his high school sweetheart, Bessie Mae Cross, on October 6, 1937, and the two graduated from Tahlequah's Bagley High School in 1938. The young couple became Christians and faithfully served their church and community through their daily lives, teaching Sunday school, tithing, supporting missions, and in prayer.
Although life was challenging during the Great Depression, Gene had developed multiple skills and always found work around Tahlequah. He soon became an ironworker in a Tulsa Local and worked on dams in Oklahoma, such as Pensacola, Tenkiller, and Ft. Gibson. During the early 50's, he moved his family with him in order to work on dams in Tennessee and South Dakota.
At the age of forty, Gene returned to Oklahoma to care for his ailing parents. He went to work for the Dewey Portland Cement Company and held the position of Master Mechanic during the building of the new plant in Rogers County, near Tulsa, which later became Martin Maretta.
Public service was a life long dream. A staunch Democrat, Gene was always active in local and state politics. Before retirement from Martin Marietta in 1981, Gene and his wife moved back to his beloved Cherokee County and bought a farm in the Moodys Community. Shortly thereafter, he ran for County Commissioner of District 1 and was elected twice.
In 1990, he lost his wife of fifty-three years. In 1996, he married Gladys Wilemon. They made their home in Tahlequah, traveled frequently, and took great pleasure in their walks and golfing together. They became members of the First Baptist Church.
In 1999, Gene became City Councilman for Ward 3 in Tahleqyah. He loved the people that he served and always said "the best peole in the world lives in Cherokee County." He was active in serving the church community, and his constituents throughout his life. Although too ill to accept the award in person, Gene was honored this month by the Chamber of Commerce of Tahlequah with the "Heritage Award."
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sid and Lula Toney, wife; Bessie Mae Toney, grand daughters; Heather Kaufman; brother, Jack S. Toney and Rex Toney; sisters; Thelma Sneed, Gladys Wilcox, and Erma Mann; and step-daughter Alverna Adams of Park Hill, OK.
He is survived by his wife, Gladys Toney, daughters; Betty Gene McGee and husband Jim of Stilwell, Patricia L. Kaufman, of Tahlequah, son; Marcus Andre Toney of Tahlequah, sister; Euphemia Durham, of Phoenix, Arizona, sisters-in-law; Wanda Noblitt and Alene Cross of Muskogee and Millie Kuhn of Edmond, and brother-in-law; Jerry Dale Austin and wife Carol of Tulsa. He is also survived by five grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, a step-daughter; Carol Sewell of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family thanks Kim Stacy and Lori Riggs for their care during the final weeks.
Services will be on Saturday, May 26, 2007, in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Tahlequah, OK.
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