Jerry Toles Obituary

JERRY CLINTON TOLES

Age 94, of Reseda passed away peacefully in his sleep June 28, 2013.

Born in the "cow town" of Meeker, CO on September 12, 1918 to Myrtle Kyle and Jesse James Toles, one of his earliest memories was of cattle stampeding through town and onto the sidewalks. Jerry attended Death Valley Elementary School where he graduated from the 8th grade. When Jerry was 14 his family moved to Death Valley Junction, where he soon learned to drive on a Model T.

Jerry was married to Darlene Blevins from 1954 until her death in 1984. He was lucky enough to have another great love at age 65, when he met and married Betty Lou Malcolm. They shared a joyful life together in Santa Clarita for almost 20 years. Jerry worked for Raymond C. Jones Exterminators in the San Fernando Valley during the 1960s and 70s.

He is survived by brother, Robert Toles; daughters, Sandra Steimel (Hank), Nancy Alpert (Van) and Betsy Castorena (Steven); stepdaughter, Loretta Mann and her daughter Brittany; daughter and granddaughters of his heart, Jeanne, Suzanne and Jhenn; grandchildren, Edward, Clinton and Stacy Steimel and Colin and Caitlin Alpert; and great-grandchildren, Erica, Nicholas, Adrian, Brittany, Annessa, Cody and Arien. He is predeceased by brothers, Harold and Herbert; and recently predeceased by niece, Joan Turner. Among those who will remember him with smiles are Kathy, Renee, Edna, his many nieces and nephews, and his Associated Square Dancers family.

Loving music and dancing, Jerry learned to square dance in 1946 at the Brewster Grange Hall on the Columbia River. He would later hold several offices, both locally and nationally, in his 40+ years with "A Square D."

He served in the Army Engineers on Okinawa during WWII. After the war, he resumed working as a fruit packer, and later worked in such interesting settings as Death Valley's Furnace Creek Inn. Jerry worked odd jobs at the resort, including once holding a sun umbrella over actress Jean Arthur during the filming of the movie The Bride Came C.O.D.

Jerry's volunteer efforts included decorating floats for the Rose Parade and driving for the Cancer Society. He was recognized by the Red Cross for donating blood regularly through the years.

In addition to his family, friends and square dancing, his great joys were travel, hunting and fishing, especially in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas. He often said that nature was his cathedral. He and Betty Lou traveled to Alaska and China and attended the annual reunions of Betty Lou's classmates in Colorado.

Jerry had a smile and a friendly word for everyone and he accepted serious illness with his usual good grace and humor. The loving care of Sonia and the team from Roze Room Hospice insured his comfort as he "went on his way, rejoicing."

He believed the purpose of life was to be honest and do good. Everyone who knew and loved him agrees he more than surpassed that standard.

To leave an online condolence to the family, please visit website: www.eternalvalleymortuary.com
ETERNAL VALLEY MEMORIAL PARK
www.eternalvalleymortuary.com
(661) 259-0800

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Los Angeles Daily News from Jul. 3 to Jul. 7, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Jerry Toles

12 Entries

July 12, 2013

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Toles family. We remember those happy days on Hartland Street also.
Jerry was a great guy and will be missed.
Sandy Ramsey & Lisa Ramsey Jorgensen

Barbara Switzer

July 10, 2013

What a wonderful friend and neighbor! I met Jerry and Betty Lou in 1988 when I purchased my home in Greenbrier. He was always willing to help those in need of assistance. He was a soft-spoken gentle man that everyone in the neighborhood loved. We will all miss him.

July 9, 2013

I met Jerry in 2006 at the Kaiser bereavement group. He was the most thoughtful, delightful man, a true gentleman. It was such a pleasure to know him.We were all so fortunate to have known him.
Florence Jameson (Valencia, CA)

Nancy Alpert

July 8, 2013

For Dad I want to mention some things I hold dear about Dad. His kindness—…driving cancer patients to appointments…donating so much blood that he got special recognition from the Red Cross…being in a bereavement group where he was often the only man, and hearing what an inspiration he was. He didn't even cuss—there's a story there………. He taught me so many interesting things about nature: calling me as I worked night shift to ask if I had time to go and see the beautiful sunrise…pointing out constellations in the( formerly) dark Valley sky…how to identify different animal tracks….and more about fishing than I cared to know.
I would put off bedtime by asking him to tell me a story about when he was a little boy( I think that's how my love of stories got started). So I heard about the little foal on his uncle's farm that lost its mother and had to be bottle fed. He followed Dad around, often nudging him in the back—which mattered more as it grew bigger. Also, he had a dog--Sandy--that was half coyote. Sandy would steal away to the pack, and one night the coyotes were howling so much, and Dad had one in his sights, ready to shoot. He took a better look at it and yelled,”Sandy. Get home! “ ---and saw Sandy sheepishly do just that.
So much of his life seemed fascinating; either the links to the old west( how Jesse James was seemingly nephew to his Dads mother) or other frontier infused places—like Death Valley Junction –or the jobs he had. . He remembered men sitting around on a Meeker sidewalk talking about the Civil War. He knew Death Valley Scotty, said he was henpecked, and once accepted a ride along to keep Scotty company as he took off for a while until the wife cooled down.
I think his honesty, which he said he got from his father, his singing, his everpresent smile and non-judgmental acceptance, and his getting ready every Saturday night to go Square Dancing are indelible memories. He was given the job of hospitality host at one time, and that suited him perfectly.
Dad filled out a book from Sandy, “A Father's Legacy”, and I will quote from that. What he values most about his family is “their love”. He felt cowboys and sports figures were his role models when he was young. On the untitled last page, he wrote, “If ever a book were made of my life I would like the title to be, ‘One of the Troops'. I think now that describes my life. A famous general once said ‘Wars are planned by us but won the troops'".

Kevin Eliason

July 7, 2013

Jerry was a great friend, neighbor and a very kind and caring person for those years in Greenbrier. He was missed the day he moved. I was very glad to meet you all at his memorial. Jerry had a full life and is now swinging the "two step" up there in big dancefloor in the sky.

Geneva Axline

July 7, 2013

Nancy and family, I met Jerry at a Kaiser Group, I enjoyed him so much, and found out that he had square danced with my parents many years ago. I know he will be missed by many, he was a wonderful person to visit with. He spoke of his family with such joy, I know how much you all meant to him, and can only guess at how much he will be missed by all of you---
Geneva Axline

Mike & Karen Genne

July 7, 2013

Our condolences to the Tole family. Jerry was our neighbor for 5 years in the 70's...what a loving and kind man he was. He watched over us when Mike was working long hours and shared his girls, Nancy and Betsy with us (the best babysitters ever!). We send our love and prayers.

Kevin Eliason

July 7, 2013

Jerry was a great neighbor and friend here in Greenbrier...a kind man that was missed the day he moved..I am so glad I was able to meet you all at the service...he is now "swinging" in heaven with the squaredance gals.

Linda Kaiser

July 6, 2013

To my dear friend Nancy and all who knew and loved Jerry,
I feel blessed to have known him for a short while and will cherish memories of our visits & conversation while having hot chocolate. His face would light up talking about is family. He loved you all so much. Im sure his smile melted a lot of hearts over the years, mine included . Such a cutie!! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for sharing these precious memories.

Mrs. Me

July 5, 2013

I dont know you but I sure enjoyed looking at the photos. Jerry looks like he had a wonderful life and many people loved him. Thank you for sharing!

July 5, 2013

Hello Nancy, Betsy,Sandy and Family,
Was hoping to be there today to celebrate your Dad's life. I remember most his sweet smile and love for his girls on Hartland Street. Thank you for putting together this memorial to share his full & loving life. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Mary Jane Taylor Stephenson

July 5, 2013

Hi Nancy and all of Jerry's loving family, I'm sorry I won't be able to be there with you today to help celebrate Jerry's wonderful life, but I am thinking of you. It was such an honor to get to know him and to hear so many great stories! God bless you all.
Tom RN

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