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Tone, Avis M. 1922-2012

TONE, STONER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 10/16/2017 at 11:29:02

Smith Funeral Home Obituaries
Grinnell, Iowa

AVIS M. TONE

Avis M. Tone, age 90, of Grinnell, died on Thursday, September 20, 2012, at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center in Grinnell.

A celebration of her life will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 28, 2012, at the Grinnell United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rose Blank officiating. Pallbearers are Phil Tone, Diane Tone, Mikey Tone, Ryan Tone, Jessica Tone, Jasmin Tone, Ryan Gilbert and David Gilbert. Honorary bearers are Mike Tone, Jackie Tone, Jim Gilbert and Kim Gilbert. Interment will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Smith Funeral Home and the family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The family will pray a rosary at 4:00 p.m.

Memorials may be designated to the Grinnell United Methodist Church or to Grinnell-Newburg Dollars For Scholars. Memories and condolences may be shared with her family at www.smithfh.com.

Avis Madeline Tone was born the daughter of Abner Webster Tone and Agnes Cora (Stoner) Tone in Gilman, Iowa. During her childhood, the family moved to a farm east of Grinnell for a short while and then to Mina, South Dakota. When she was fourteen, the family returned to Grinnell, where Avis graduated from high school with the class of 1939. She then taught at area rural schools before receiving her BA degree and master's degree in education from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Avis devoted her life to bettering the lives of others, especially children. She lived by the motto and instilled in those she educated, "Good, better, best never let it rest; until the good is better and the better is the best." She began her life-long career of over 45 years as an educator and administrator in the Grinnell-Newburg School district at Davis School. She then spent a year teaching in Japan and returned to Grinnell to teach at Cooper school and became the principal at both Cooper and Parker schools. She was a pioneer in education and was quoted with, "Women were not often seen in administration positions in education. That was too bad, as children needed to see women in those positions."

Avis was a long-time member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church. She was a member and past president of the United Methodist Women, was actively involved as a Sunday school teacher, and was a past Sunday school superintendent, and past chairperson of the church administrative council. She was also a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma (charter member), Soroptomist Club, Business and Professional Women's Club, State of Iowa and Poweshiek County mental health associations, Poweshiek Retired School Personnel Association, Pythian Sisters, Grinnell Area Arts Council, Business Women Associates, Iowa State Education Association, Grinnell-Newburg Education Association, and Grinnell Camp Fire Girls, for which she was summer camp director for ten years. She also served as treasurer of Second Mile in Grinnell and was the secretary of Heritage Park.

Avis was an avid collector of many items, including birds, bells, spoons, thimbles and plates to name a few. Her enjoyments included visiting with friends and family, being active in the many organizations and groups she was a member of, and traveling to every state except Alaska. Avis will be remembered for the way in which she shaped and touched the lives of the children who were blessed to have known her.

She is survived by her nephews, Michael(Jackie) Tone of Cleveland, Georgia and Phillip (Diane) Tone of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; and her grand nieces and nephews, Mikey, Ryan, Jessica and Jasmin Tone.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings, Soloman Wayne Tone, Eleanor Jean Tone, and Martha Mae Tone.


 

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