Obituary of Elizabeth Toney

Elizabeth Cumming was born 3Nov1919 on the family farm in north Delta County and grew up there until her family moved into the city of Cooper in the late 1920’s.  Elizabeth attended public schools in Cooper.  Following graduation from High School, Elizabeth attended East Texas State College in Commerce majoring in music.

J. T. Toney and Elizabeth Cumming were married December 14, 1939, in Cooper, Texas, at the Cooper Methodist Church. 

Elizabeth continued part-time studies in Commerce and developed considerable skill as a musician playing keyboard instruments.  She became the full-time organist at the Cooper Methodist Church, a position she held with honor for more than fifty years.  Her grandchildren would sit beside her on the organ bench whenever they came to visit; she never missed a note.

January,1952, Travis and Elizabeth Travis Toney purchased the Cooper Review newspaper and operated the venture as the Sulphur Valley Publishing Company. 

 Elizabeth continued to add to her college resume as a part-time student at East Texas State University completing “almost” her degree requirements, assisted her husband in publishing the Cooper Review newspaper, and was a music teacher in the Cooper public school system.

 Elizabeth and Travis Toney had two children.  James Daniel Toney and Kay Toney Johnstone.  Elizabeth had five grand-children:  Scott Toney Johnstone, deceased of Sherman, Leigh Elizabeth Toney Brown (Wynn) , of Ft. Worth, William Trent Johnstone, (Nikki) of Dallas, Katie Toney Wynn (Forrest), of Houston, and Jennifer Johnstone Shelby of Sherman.  Elizabeth has 8 Great-grandchildren:  Bates Martin Brown and Pierson Turner Brown of Ft. Worth, James Daniel Wynn and Isobel Lynn Wynn of Houston, Violet Toney Johnstone of Dallas, and William Scott Shelby, Charles Robert Shelby, and Nathaniel James Shelby of Sherman.

 Elizabeth was “high energy”, knew everybody, and was infectiously friendly.  She robustly exemplified her Christian faith.  Elizabeth had many names.  She was “Mother” to Dan and Kay.  She was “Baba” to her grands and great-grands.  She was “Angel” to her husband.  She was “Gibba” to her extended family.  She was “Emily” to select close friends.  She was a saint to everybody because of her a steadfast Christian ethic which she followed always.

 Elizabeth was called home September 17, 2019.