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The family of Toni Lee Earls uploaded a photo
Friday, June 1, 2018
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Caitlin Van Zijll de Jong posted a condolence
Thursday, April 5, 2012
I decided to Google my name today just for fun and was amazed to see the only instance of me on the internet is my name listed here. I took a moment to read all the words and thoughts you have all shared about my mom and was once again awed by how deeply she had impacted us all. Four years have passed but it still feels like yesterday and there is never a day that passes without her being in my thoughts. She truly was the most incredibly loving human being I have ever known and I feel the loss of that spirit deeply. I know she is where she needs to be and I seek her knowledge and guidance still in the memories I hold so dear. Thank you all for your contribution to her life, I hope if you stop by to read the words contained her in that you also feel her loving touch just as I did today.
Miss you always Mom!
M
Mandy posted a condolence
Friday, March 7, 2008
It's been a while, but Toni is still on my mind. Yesterday I was ripping the zippers out of my celery - I don't like the strings - and I remembered how once she got on my case about it. She told me that the zippers were good for me and I need to eat them. I nver really liked celery, but I eat it anyway... if I can get the zippers out.
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Sister Sue posted a condolence
Sunday, January 27, 2008
All of the messages of love and caring are comforting to me as I try to make sense of the pain and loss I feel. I've always known what a wonderful sister, daughter, mother, friend and woman she was as we shared all the special moments, good and painful, of our lives.
The celebration of Toni's life was a joyous time, gently wrapped within the loving, grieving arms of all who knew and loved her. We now will honor her loving generosity to encompass the pain of our loss.
L
Lewis & Marilyn Drury posted a condolence
Saturday, January 26, 2008
It was a pleasure to know and work with Toni as School Bus Drivers for many years. She will be missed by all who knew her and loved her. My husband (Lew), was the driver-trainer who trained Toni how to drive a School Bus. He told me from the beginning that she would make an excellent driver and he was so right. She was the perfect lady for the job. He was disappointed that he was unable to attend her service, due to his illness, but felt like a part of it, when I came home with the bouquet of white flowers given to me by Toni's sister. That was such a lovely and thoughtful thing for her to have done, since Toni and Lew had such a good working relationship and had the utmost respect for each other. Again, I would like to thank Toni's sister for her kindness and her
prayers on Lew"s behalf. May God bless and be with the family not only now, but always. You'll be in our hearts forever Toni. It was so nice knowing you. until we meet again, so long for now.
Lewis and Marilyn Drury
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Caitlin Van Zijll de Jong posted a condolence
Thursday, January 24, 2008
To the Tumwater Transportation Family, please accept my heart felt thank you for all your wonderful support over the past week. Thank you for your friendship to my Mom and thank you for enriching her life in so many countless ways.
My mother was an incredible person and a blessing to me and my children. I have always felt blessed to have the wonderful connection I had with her, it was unique and very special to both of us. I have never in my life felt so completely unconditionally loved, always supported, and encouraged. Mom’s was the voice I needed to hear when I felt sad, happy, elated, afraid and needed comfort or celebration. From the first day we spoke to the last I knew that she was my mother and that no matter the time we spent apart we had that bond between us. She was a Grandma in every sense of the word, providing love and support and yes spoiling James and Tony every chance she could. I lived without her for 27 years and I never thought I would have to do that again. She was supposed to be here with me for a long time and I can’t even begin to share how much she will be missed. She was my hero; she was the wind beneath my wings. Mom I love you and remember you now and always.
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Harriet Ferris posted a condolence
Monday, January 21, 2008
I met Toni last year when I became a bus driver at Tumwater S.D. she soon became a dear friend that I could share my personal life with. She was a strong women who had her own twist to life that was contagious, from her researching the internet for you to her tips on bus driving and everything in between. I was blessed to know her for the short time I did and I will keep my memories of her dear to me. She believed in a person being true to who they are and she taught me it is ok to care from a distance. Thank you Toni! I will miss her friendship, her laughter, and hearing your voice over the radio saying "that means the rest of us are out of here".
B
Bruce A. Smith posted a condolence
Sunday, January 20, 2008
In Memoriam: A student of the Ram, Toni Earls
The Bus Driver
I first met the bus driver at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment in the late summer of 2003. She was my partner for a week-long event, and it was a stirring occasion for me because that was the moment I decided to run for the presidency of the United States.
Perhaps as a result of such a powerful dream, when I found out my partner was a school bus driver for the nearby suburb of Tumwater, Washington, I felt a note of disappointment. A part of me said, quietly, is that all you dream yourself to be, master, a school bus driver?
But that judgmental, arrogant part of me was just that - just a part. Another side of me enjoyed the school bus driver’s quiet acceptance of my dream. When the rest of my pool of friends were telling me openly – President of the United States? Bruce, you’ve gone too far this time!!, and even my former psychotherapist called to say she was concerned about my tendencies towards grandiosity, the bus driver just kept cruising down the highway of our friendship. She didn’t even suggest that I should run for mayor first, thank Gawd.
In addition, another part of me connected with her personal openness. With no effort or distress, and in quiet spurts of conversation, she told me lots about herself - her childhood in Canada, a mysterious weight gain in young adulthood, and her difficulties with money and debt. It was an easy slosh – I’d tell her my plans for Iraq, and she’d tell me how she dealt with bullies on her bus.
So, beginning with that Ramtha event, we formed a casual acquaintanceship composed of a couple of emails a week, occasional phone calls, and a barbeque every now and then. She and her friend Linda even came out to my little hideaway in the hills of Eatonville, an 18 foot RV that requires guests to sit outside and brave the cold, rain or mosquitoes. The bus driver was one of the few social contacts I’ve had to make the trek. Plus, when she came to that evening of red wine and chicken roasted over a wood fire, she allowed me to vent about my lonely, miserable life – now that’s a friend. (And Linda, too, - that’s a double friendship.).
Sometimes weeks or months would go by, and then an email would pop up from her saying, “So, what’s new?,” and our friendship would be re-nourished. I began to be regularly invited to her shin-digs – birthday parties at her house in Rainier, or a jaunt down to Pat and Marcia’s in Centralia for a Christmas gathering.
But something happened that broke the connection. I remember it clearly: a pizza at the Casa Mia in Yelm after seeing the movie “Fahrenheit 911.” I had thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and was still ranting against the stupidities of Bush and Co. The bus driver was strangely still.
“Why are you so quiet?” I parried.
She began to tell me.
My Gawd, she’s a conservative Republican! I screamed inside. I couldn’t handle it, and cooled toward the bus driver. We never spoke much after that.
When I heard that the bus driver had died in January of 2008, I was surprised. Wow- another one is gone. That’s the third this month. I drove to the commemoration ceremony without any tears or sense of emotion.
But when I turned the corner on North St in Tumwater and saw the big yellow school bus parked in front of the funeral home, I lost it.
I walked quietly into the ceremony room and found an empty seat. I hadn’t recognized a soul. Must be all the school bus drivers, I thought. I had met a few of them when I had helped the bus driver move out of her house and resettle in an apartment to get her finances under control. Meeting her buds from work, I knew how important they were to each other, and I was not surprised to see a room full of what I assumed must be Tumwater school bus drivers.
By knowingness, however, I had sat in front of Linda and a crew of Ramtha students, who spotted me and gave warm hello’s. I’ve picked the right spot, I thought, and settled in.
But, I was not prepared by prior funerary experiences for what happened next. As fellow bus driver after bus driver spoke, my tears fell in torrents.
The drivers told of their love for my friend, of how she had helped them in their own personal dramas, and in the momentous crossroads of life; how she encouraged one driver to become a gospel singer and partner with another driver to make their singing dreams come true. Just like she had encouraged me to tell stories at her dinner parties.
They told of her love for her kids on the bus, and how she started a “Books on the Bus” project that is now a national program and earned her both professional recognition and two thousand bucks.
I realized how much a school bus driver can do to make a difference in the world. I realized how much living my friend had done everyday behind her steering wheel, being a present, caring, effective part of her kids lives on their way to and fro’ school.
I sniffled as much liquid as I could back into my body, but the tears overran my plumbing. At one point, my breath shot a stream of teary mist out in front of my face. That’s never happened before, I thought. The death of the driver is hitting me deeper than I imagined possible.
Then I remembered the two jackets the driver had given me shortly after I had helped her move from her house in Rainer. During the move, I wore a totally ragged rain jacket, duct-taped together at the seams. It was a pitiful garment, and the bus driver quietly said some weeks later, handing me a brown paper bag at a coffee rendez-vous –“I found these in the move and I thought you could use them.”
They were used rain jackets, but in good shape, one a Gore-Tex Helly Heck job that would have cost hundreds brand-new. Over time, I just knew the driver had gone shopping for me, that these weren’t just “left-overs” that she couldn’t wear anymore. Instinctively, I hadn’t worn them to the commemoration because I knew they would trigger my customary teary response, so I was trying to maintain some composure in advance.
At one point, the Master of Ceremony asked the assembled to call out one word that encapsulated the bus driver. I wanted to shout out “generous,” but my lack of composure prevented me from speaking, a strange state of being for a storyteller.
Afterwards, he asked us to come to the dais and pluck a rose petal from a bouquet and place it into a commemorative glass jar that would accompany the body of the bus driver to its final resting place. Linda reached over and invited me to join her little group in line.
“I’ll meet you in a minute, I have to go the bathroom,” I replied. I had to pee, but more I had to have some privacy and pull myself together. I simply could not be with others any more, I was too distraught.
In a toilet stall I cried, a first for me in a bathroom, and blew my nose. Over and over, till the sinus headache receded and I felt somewhat normal; then I returned to the group.
I blubbered at the family’s receiving line. They were so dry-eyed, and I was so moist. I was confused. How does this happen? They’re family - me, I’m just a friend who hasn’t seen the bus driver in at least two years. Wow, I realized, the bus driver has really taught me about the beauty of the simple life.
As I write this, I realize I was touched by the bus driver just as much as she helped all those kids on her many buses – fifteen years worth, I learned today. I heard so many stories of her experiences with those kids, and here I am, today just realizing I was on a bus ride with her for years and never knew it.
These days, I’m a newspaper reporter and talk to politicians and community leaders every day, wading through their spin, mis-direction and bull. But none of the powerful and mighty folks that I thought I had wanted to be part of one day back at the Ranch a long time ago, ever has touched me like the school bus driver from Tumwater.
What a ride she could give - a story, song or a hug, mile after mile around every corner, curve and bend in the road.
Bruce A. Smith
January 20, 2008
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Hadlee Barton (Tom and Cathy - parents) posted a condolence
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Toni was my very first bus driver as I started into elementary school. I am in kindergarten this year. She was very wonderful, and my family misses her greatly. Toni made me feel safe while riding the bus to and from school; and my parents appreciated the care and concern that Toni showed for me.
J
Julie Rohr (fellow bus driver) posted a condolence
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Toni was such a caring women to all she knew. She could cry at the drop of a hat and that only showed how good hearted Toni was. She truly cared about everyone. Toni had a great sense of humor that would surprise me at times and I loved that about her. She will be greatly missed at the bus yard.
D
Danielle posted a condolence
Saturday, January 19, 2008
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Toni. She was the most wonderful woman and I have many dear memories. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
M
Marlene Barron posted a condolence
Friday, January 18, 2008
I've known Toni since 1994. I came to know her as very caring person which provided guidance and love for the students which she was afforded to become a part of their lives as their bus driver. I will miss her her gentle smile and the enlightening conversations we had. On this day I am sure she will be singing "happy birthday" to someone she will come in contact with on her bus ride in heaven.
A
Anita Earls posted a condolence
Friday, January 18, 2008
The first time I met Toni, she gave me a great big hug and made me feel instantly loved, wanted and accepted. I don't know if she ever realized how much that meant to me. I loved her laugh and admired how much she gave of her heart to people. She was a very special lady and will forever have a place in my heart. I will miss her greatly.
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Marilyn Walters posted a condolence
Friday, January 18, 2008
What a neat lady and friend. I always enjoyed working with her on different projects. Toni was a true leader and loved by all.
T
The Swenson Family posted a condolence
Friday, January 18, 2008
Toni was such an important part of my children's lives at Tumwater Hill. She made both of my boys feel so special and loved. Her smile was a wonderful way to end each day for them. They loved riding on her bus, hearing her stories and jokes and seeing the special things she would point out to them. I enjoyed seeing her each day and continuing to exchange friendly waves as she drove by my house after my boys were no longer in kindergarten. My boys were so lucky to be on her bus. She will be greatly missed and she was truly loved.
D
Dawn Anderson (Doodlebugs Daycare) posted a condolence
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wow, having Toni (the tiger) as my Kindergarten bus driver for Tumwater Hill the past couple of years was such a blessing. She was the best driver I ever had and will miss her more than words can say. You could tell she loved her job. She was always so wonderfull with the children and friendly to chat with. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.
J
John Iverson posted a condolence
Thursday, January 17, 2008
What a pleasure it was to know and work with Toni at Tumwater School District, she was a special person.
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