Toni Ashwell, 64, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend and matriarch, died on March 29, 1996 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Toni went proudly and quietly after several years of battling bone marrow cancer.
Born April 9, 1931 in The Pak, Manitoba, Canada of Cree, Sioux French and Scottish parentage. Toni was the middle child of nine children born to her parents, Bertha Emily Field and Howard Russell Brandon. Her given name was Leona Yvonne Brandon, but since the age of two she insisted on being called "Toni". Toni was raised on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota as well as in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Toni lived all over much of the United States until she settled in her later life in Mariposa, California, then eventually Salt Lake City. Alcoholics Anonymous had a great impact on Toni's life.Toni joined the LDS Church and had a firm conviction of her beliefs and challenged all of her family to read the Book of Mormon. Toni loved exploring her family history and was very proud to be a Native American. Toni liked good food and spent much of her career in business management in the restaurant and catering industry. Toni had integrity and great strength in the face of adversity. She loved good humor and fun and was always thinking of others. She loved to do creative crafts and handwork and give them to her family and friends. Toni loved the English language and was a gifted storyteller. She loved the color red and her favorite flowers were gardenias.
Sincere thanks to the many caregivers, doctors, home-care nurses and Hospice, whose care allowed Toni to have her wish of dying at home.
Toni was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Harold Ashwell, brother, Howard Brandon, sister, Joyce Brandon, brother, John Brandon, and sister, Mary Brandon Baughman.
Toni is survived by daughter, Joyce Yvonne Stoneman, of Salt Lake City; grandson, Charles "Chuck" Clem, Jr. (Tami), of Modesto, Calif.; granddaughter, Janet Dunn (Daniel) and their children, Brandy, Kayla and DJ, son, Gary Ashwell (Jan), of Las Vegas, Nevada; son, James Lowell Stoneman (Glendora) of Salt Lake City; granddaughter, April Dawn Estrada (Juan) and their son, Jordan, of Modesto, Calif.; grandson, James Russell Stoneman, and Marcus Gavin Stoneman, both of Modesto, Calif.; son, Christian Edward Zuckschwerdt (Cindy), their children, Ashley and Jordan, of Indiana; son, Chester Anthony Zuckschwerdt (Joyce), their children, Benjamin, Jason, Brandon, and Jessica, of Kentucky. Also survived by brothers and sister, Geraldine Anderson (Tom), Palmdale, Calif.; Gary Brandon, of Sandy, Oregon; Percy Eugene "Gunny" Brandon (Shirley), of McMinville, Oregon; and William Brandon (Pamela) of Portland, Oregon; cousins, Pat and Ron Smith, of Salt Lake City.
Visitation will be held at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 South 200 East, S.L.C. on Monday, April 1 from 6-8 p.m. Visitation will also be held Tuesday, April 2, from 9-9:45 a.m. at Salt Lake Emigration 21st Ward, 2nd Ave. and K Street. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.
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