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Franklin Toney, 44, died last Sunday, as Lake County News has reported.
Known for being a down-to-earth and generous man, his family and friends are putting together a memorable send off for Toney, who leaves behind many family members, friends, girlfriend Janet Folmar and her son, and his own young son, Parker, 7.
Toney's younger brother, Duane, said the family currently is working on setting up a trust fund for young Parker, who lost his mother last year. The family is requesting donations to the fund in lieu of flowers.
Duane Toney and close friend, Keith Leffler, were finalizing details on Tuesday for the memorial services. They wanted to make sure it was both memorable and fitting.
“Frank was my best friend,” his brother said.
A viewing will take place this Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Jones & Lewis Funeral Home, 16140 Main St., Lower Lake, Duane Toney said.
On Sunday, June 6, a memorial service is planned. Duane Toney said a procession of firefighters, law enforcement, Caltrans staff, family and community members will form beginning at noon at Northshore Fire Protection District's Clearlake Oaks station, 12655 E. Highway 20, where Frank Toney became a volunteer firefighter at age 16.
A brief ceremony will take place in which Frank Toney's firefighting gear and the equipment he has used over the last several years as a Caltrans employee will be placed in an antique fire engine by Leffler and another longtime friend, Jerome McKenzie, now a Sacramento Metro Fire Department firefighter who started at the Clearlake Oaks station in 1981 with Toney. The procession will leave at 12:30 p.m., Duane Toney said.
The procession is set to include two California Highway Patrol cars as escorts – one at the front of the group, one at the back, Duane Toney said. The Iron Pigs, a fraternal motorcycle group composed of fire and law enforcement personnel, will follow the CHP's lead car and be followed by the antique truck bearing Frank Toney's gear, a Caltrans truck, and vehicles with Toney's parents and family.
Duane Toney said fire engines from around Lake County – each with two firefighters apiece – will take part in the procession, including a ladder truck each from Lakeport Fire and Lake County Fire, and engines from Northshore fire's Lucerne, Nice and Upper Lakes stations, as well as engines coming from Kelseyville, Middletown, and Lake County Fire's Clearlake and Lower Lake stations.
Frank Toney formerly worked with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – now called Cal Fire – and his brother said an engine and a dozer transport unit from Cal Fire's Clearlake Oaks station will take part in the procession, along with two to three Lake County Sheriff's Office patrol units committed by Sheriff Rod Mitchell and a Department of Fish and Game unit.
The procession will make its way to Lower Lake High School, 9430 Lake St., where Frank Toney graduated from high school in 1983. Duane Toney said they're expecting a crowd of more than 300 people, and the memorial services will be held in the school's new gym.
Leffler will be the master of ceremonies at the service, which Duane Toney said is expected to last about an hour and a half and will include an open microphone for sharing memories.
Following the service, the procession will head back to Clearlake Oaks, to the Moose Lodge, at the corner of Highway 20 and Highway 53, for a reception. Duane Toney said his brother had been a member of the lodge for 23 years.
When Frank Toney had a party he would tell people to bring their favorite dish, his brother remembered.
Those wanting to bring food for the reception are asked to contact Frank Toney's sister-in-law, Leticia Toney, at 707-350-7601, to make arrangements.
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