Biography:

Mary Elizabeth Raines Toney, 95, of Little Rock, AR, passed away on November 30, 2024.

Born January 6, 1929, to Mary & E.E. Raines, Mary graduated from Little Rock High School before attending Mills College in Oakland, CA, where she met her husband of 54 years, John “Doug” Toney. Mary was a loving mother of five, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother to two.  

Amongst many of her passions throughout life, Mary was an avid quilter and vocalist – for both the local opera and later, her beloved church choir. Often, one could find her children and grandchildren in the church congregation, beaming with pride as Mary’s soprano voice carried beautifully throughout the sanctuary. Other times, her voice was heard echoing throughout the family home whilst at her grand piano as she practiced for the opera at the Robinson Theater or the church choir.

Mary was an artist in more ways than one. Her quilts, wall hangings, and her personal favorite, baby blankets, with their flamboyant colors and geometric patterns, were atop every bed or decorating each wall in her house. Thimbles, scissors, and pins scattered across the tabletop, the sound of a sewing machine and her foot hitting the pedal – almost as melodic as her singing. Her quilts will forever be cherished by those blessed to receive one.

Mary also served as the Arkansas Coordinator to the American Field Service (AFS), a foreign exchange student program. Ultimately, Mary’s service with AFS led to hundreds of foreign exchange students coming to the state and local students studying abroad. Her and Doug continued to host exchange students themselves for over 20 years – many of them not knowing a word of English. She will be remembered by many as a champion for intercultural exchange. To this day, many of her former exchange students, their children, and even grandchildren, have received various quilts and baby blankets – Mary’s love and warm embrace will continue to be felt around the world by them. She touched the lives of so many yet made each loved one feel uniquely cherished.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, John Douglas Toney, Sr. and daughter, Katie Barnett. She is survived by four children; John Jr. and George Toney, Laura Hinze and husband Clif, and Ann Wolfe; grandchildren, Bonnie Potter and husband Hunt, Lee Barnett, Morgan and Griffin Wheeler, Katherine Toney Balch and husband Greg, and JD and Brooks Toney; great-grandchildren, Hadley Potter and Leo Toney.

Mary will be laid to rest with her husband at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, AR on Monday, December 9. Friends and family are invited to her memorial service at 12pm, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2223 Durwood Rd., Little Rock, AR 72207. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.

It was Mary’s wish that she be honored by donating to AFS-USA at www.afsusa.org/donate/ or St. Paul United Methodist Church at www.stpaulumclr.org.