LAKE COUNTY — The love shared during the celebration of the life of longtime community contributor Frank Toney, 44, was as immeasurable as the procession that initiated the memorial service on Sunday. Toney”s life of service to his community was well-honored and remembered with great appreciation, admiration, love, humor and many tears.
Toney, a 1983 graduate of Lower Lake High School (LLHS), Little League coach, government board director, CalTrans employee, emergency medical provider, fearless firefighter and brave hero to many, died unexpectedly on May 29, leaving behind a mournful community, heartbroken family and his seven-year-old son, Parker.
“My Frankie, he came into this world kicking and he went out kicking. He didn”t want to go,” Toney”s mother Sue Burton said. “He loved everybody and this last week I”ve found out that everybody loved him.”
Hundreds gathered at the Clearlake Oaks Fire Station where Sunday”s “Last Call” commenced with the dignified retirement of Toney”s fire and CalTrans gear. The gear was transported to LLHS in the station”s 1940s fire engine among a procession Toney”s father, Retired Fire Chief Jim Burton, said must have been at about three miles long.
The procession included the representation of two units from every emergency response agency in the county as well as CalTrans. In addition, a REACH air ambulance joined the procession from the sky hovering respectfully over the high school for a few minutes before departing.
Bagpipes played as Toney”s gear was escorted into the LLHS gym where his fellow firefighters, some of whom had known him since childhood, led a gracious and heartfelt traditional firefighter memorial service. All were invited to share memories of Toney.
The service was led by Northshore Fire Protection District Engineer Keith Leffler, who was a very close friend of Toney”s. Leffler shared fond stories, including those he recalled from days when Toney was his roommate, as he invited speakers to the podium.
Toney”s “best friend” Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Charlie Diener said he realized the impossibility of summing up Toney”s life in a single speech. “In life true friends are very rare. Frankie was my best friend,” he said. “The thing is, Frankie was a best friend to so many. That”s the kind of man he was.”
Diener shared a humorous recollection of his and Toney”s “first” fire call. He said they were about 16-years-old when a fire broke on Sulpher Bank Drive. He said Toney” picked him up in his old beat-up VW Bug and they chased the fire down. He said getting to the fire was difficult but they were determined. They hopped a fence and hiked two miles to get in front of the fire, Diener said, when they realized there was nothing they could do. “But we were there,” he said.
Fellow firefighter Danny Copas said that every time a code went off, “Frankie was racing to get there.” Copas recalled how much Toney had loved the movie “Top Gun” and how they had to have watched it at least 167 times at the station. Copas said that Toney had a Top Gun hat that he always wore. He said at one time, Toney had convinced a rookie that he was a Top Gun pilot. “The kid believed pretty much whatever Frankie said,” Copas said with a laugh.
Jim Burton said that his son had touched a lot of hearts. He joked with his son”s comrades, recalling their childhood and telling them that as parents in this small town, he and Sue always knew what they were up to. He graciously thanked all in attendance for their love and support and said that while Toney had given the community so much, he had given him a grandson, whom he said is the joy of his life and was the joy of his son”s.
Sue Burton heightened the humor of the service, recalling her son”s childhood, his trials and his successes. She told her son”s friends that while they may have stories, she has stories on them too. She also thanked all in attendance as well as those on the road who respectfully pulled to side as the procession passed by.
Toney”s sister Lynette Toney said her brother touched the lives of people daily. She spoke of his radiant smile and encouraged those in attendance to follow her brother”s lead in living with kindness and compassion, loving your fellow man and loving like there is no tomorrow.
Toney”s brother Duane Toney also offered some advice after briefly describing the history of the Maltese Cross, which is a common firefighter symbol. He spoke of the knights who came to immortalize the symbol. “I hope the next time you see a Maltese Cross and the person behind, you know that person comes from a long line of knights who have been protecting you and me with honor, courage and dedication,” he said. “This pretty much sums up my brother.”
The courage that Toney possessed was illustrated well in the courage he passed to his son. The brave little boy took the microphone and stood honorably before the crowd to share his perception of his father. “My dad was a very good dad. He always used to take me hunting,” he said as he broke to tears and the crowd stood to support him.
Many sharing memories spoke of Toney as being kind, generous, compassionate, supportive, happy and a complete joy to be around. “If everybody was like Frankie, this world would be perfect,” one man said.
Toney”s cousin thanked the crowd for all the stories shared that she said helped her to know her cousin better. One little girl, whose father Toney had medically assisted, said she once told Toney that he was her hero. She said he told he that he was not a hero, that she was and that she needed to be brave for her father.
Many thanked the Burtons for their success in raising a wonderful son who touched the lives of so many.
Closing the service was Record-Bee photographer and Lake County Fire Protection District firefighter Bob Minenna. He recalled fondly how Toney had referred to him as the ninja photographer because there were many times when Minenna wasn”t seen on the scene but Toney”s picture would appear the next day in the newspaper.
Minenna served a special purpose Sunday, acting on behalf of Congressman Mike Thompson. “I read somewhere that you can tell the greatness of someone by his friends and the people who respect him. At this time I would like Jim and Sue to stand and turn around and see just how great your son Frankie was,” Minenna said, before presenting little Parker with an American Flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington, DC in his father”s name.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
