Peggy Toone’s memory honored at Grace Library
According to the family of longtime Library Board member Peggy Toone, “We hope people will remember Peggy and her love of the library. More than anything, we hope they will slow down, take a moment to relax, and of course, enjoy a book!” A perfect spot to do all of those things has been placed in front of the Grace Library in Peggy’s memory, and the bench bearing her name was recently visited by members of her large family.
“When Mom passed away, we asked for donations to the library in lieu of flowers. We knew Mom loved serving on the Library Board and would have liked this idea. The bench was suggested by the library board after considering many other options and we agreed! The idea is that people can sit and enjoy a book in front of the library,” Daughter Diane Davis said.
According to the family, Peggy grew up in the small town of Banida, ID. She was the youngest of 5 children. She graduated from Preston High School then went on the earn her Bachelors Degree in teaching at Utah State University. She taught Business, Keyboarding, and Yearbook at Logan High School before falling in love with and marrying a dairy farmer in Grace, Idaho in 1950. She is the mother of four children and was an active community member throughout her life. She did everything from sewing numerous costumes for elementary plays, serving as a Cub Scout Leader for over 8 years, and serving as a PTO member, Vice President, and President at Thatcher Elementary School. She joined the library board around 1995 and served in many capacities on that board until she was no longer able to due to her health in 2021.
Peggy passed away in March of 2022, leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, and learning.w
Diane explained that reading and learning were central to her mother’s beliefs, and she fostered in those around her, especially her family. “Mom loved to read and always encouraged others to read, including her children. She valued education and always looked out for the underdog. Mom loved that the library could provide reading materials to those who might not have it in their homes otherwise. We loved when mom would have a library board meeting, because we knew it meant she would come home with a pile of books for us to read!” Diane said.
Her son Matthew Toone echoed the sentiment, sharing what he had observed in his youth about his mom’s feelings for the library. “One of my favorite memories is ‘going to town’ (Grace) to get some groceries, and if we were good, a candy bar as well,” Matthew said. “That was usually followed up by a car wash and a visit to the library for some books and a video. She was so proud that our small town had such an excellent library with popular books that people loved to read. She often reminded us that any book in a public library in the state of Idaho could be requested and checked out locally, thus opening up the world of learning and exploration to anyone who wanted it.”
With her husband Sherman always supportive of the time and energy Peggy devoted to the Library Board Meetings and her bookkeeping responsibilities, she was always able to keep her love of the Grace Library an important and focal part of her family’s life.
As daughter Diane remembered, “I was the most avid reader of the family and would send my mom to her Library Board Meetings with my wish list of books I would like to read. I loved it when she came home with a stack of books for me from my list, along with some other recommendations from the librarian. Sometimes, I would even go to her meetings with her and peruse the bookshelves while I waited.”
Her family explained that her devotion to the library was a part of her larger commitment to creating a positive and supportive world around her. Her obituary in 2022 included the lines, “She knew how to make everyone feel welcome and was a fantastic conversationalist. She was always interested in other’s experiences and knew how to make people feel special and valued.”
Diane further painted the picture of her mother in saying, “Mom loved to help others and always wanted to help those in need. When we were going through things after she passed away, we found a sticky note where she had written the quote, ‘Be kind to as many people as possible.’ This was advice she lived by and tried to instill in her children.”
Peggy was known to say “If I won the lottery [which she never played], I would take part of the money and build a new library for the community.” Over her many years with the Board, she was essential to the success and expansion of one of the best-loved and well cared for libraries around, and one which is still at the heart of the Grace community to this day.
