1937
June
2012
June Lee Toland
October 11, 1937 — May 18, 2012
Harlingen, TX:
June Lee Toland, 74, lost a most courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, May 18, 2012. June was born October 11, 1937 in Houston, Texas, the only daughter of Louise and Cecil Lee. June graduated from Lamar High School in Houston and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, followed by her nursing degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She maintained her professional qualification as a registered nurse until her death.
While in Galveston she met the love of her life, Dr. George Jefferson Toland, Jr. after being introduced through mutual friends. They married the day after graduation and this past May celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. June worked as a public health nurse in Miami while George completed his medical residency training in pediatric medicine. A short time later they moved to Harlingen, joining the Valley Children's Clinic and later forming the Harlingen Family Night Clinic. June was a successful independent business owner and Rotarian who served as Clinic Director for the Harlingen Family Night Clinic.
The way June lived her life can perhaps best be summed up in this poem kept on a mantle in her home, "I shall pass thru this world but once; any good thing, therefore I can do, or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again." As such, June was a tireless volunteer and leader for countless charity organizations in the Rio Grande Valley. She served the community in some of the following organizations: Valley Zoological Foundation Society, Gladys Porter Zoo, Cameron-Willacy County Medical Alliance Northern Chapter, Valley Baptist Hospital, The American Heart Association, Harlingen Rotary, St. Anthony's Church, Queen of Peace Catholic Church and PEO to name but a few.
Having practiced as a public health nurse and losing her father to cancer, June was a most passionate advocate for better health care for all and for finding a cure for cancer. She truly believed in the American Cancer Society's goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem. She began serving the American Cancer Society through the only community outreach program they had at the time, "block walks" in 1971. Using her creative talents and network of wonderful friends, she spent the next forty years bringing to the Valley some of the American Cancer Society's most successful fund raising efforts. Undoubtedly, the most successful is the "Relay for Life". With a small group of volunteers, June brought the first “Relay for Life” to the Rio Grande Valley, the second "Relay for Life" in the state of Texas, over 18 years ago. By 2004, over 30 "Relay for Life" events had taken place in other parts of the Valley, with over 50,000 individuals participating and together working towards finding a cure.
June is the recipient of countless awards. A few of note include being awarded one of the most prestigious honors bestowed by the American Cancer Society, the Distinguished Member of the Society in 2001 and in 2007 being awarded the Lillian Lamon Crystal Heart by the American Heart Association. June has been appointed and elected to over 20 various Unit and Divisional boards as well as multiple national boards and committees of the American Cancer Society. As one esteemed American Cancer Society regional directly recently remarked, "June believed in our mission and genuinely worked towards making a difference for so many every single day."
A beloved wife, mom, mother-in-law, grandmother and dear friend to so many, her infectious positive attitude and never-ending example to put the needs of others ahead of your own will be greatly missed. A poem kept by June’s bed sums up the way June lived her life, "When morning breaks and I face the day, This dear Lord, is what I pray, That when the same day turns to gray, Some child of yours may be happier be, May find himself more close to Thee, Because I lived this day!"
Her seemingly unending love, patience and support will be missed most by her surviving family of husband, Dr. George Jefferson Toland, Jr., sons: George Jefferson Toland, III (of Anaheim Hills, CA), Cary Michael Toland (of Brownsville), and John Stephen Toland (of Austin); their spouses, Peter, Maggie and Debbie and five grand children, Cary, Brighton, Spencer, Bentlee and Boden; and numerous cousins.
Funeral services will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Harlingen, Texas, Tuesday, May 22 at 11:00 a.m. with a burial service to follow at Buena Vista Memorial Park in Brownsville. A rosary will be held on Monday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Harlingen. Arrangements are being handled by the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen, where a memorial book will be available for signing on Monday, May 21. Memorial gifts in June's memory can be made to the American Cancer Society, Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville or to the St. Anthony's Church "Building Fund".
June Lee Toland, 74, lost a most courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, May 18, 2012. June was born October 11, 1937 in Houston, Texas, the only daughter of Louise and Cecil Lee. June graduated from Lamar High School in Houston and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, followed by her nursing degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She maintained her professional qualification as a registered nurse until her death.
While in Galveston she met the love of her life, Dr. George Jefferson Toland, Jr. after being introduced through mutual friends. They married the day after graduation and this past May celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. June worked as a public health nurse in Miami while George completed his medical residency training in pediatric medicine. A short time later they moved to Harlingen, joining the Valley Children's Clinic and later forming the Harlingen Family Night Clinic. June was a successful independent business owner and Rotarian who served as Clinic Director for the Harlingen Family Night Clinic.
The way June lived her life can perhaps best be summed up in this poem kept on a mantle in her home, "I shall pass thru this world but once; any good thing, therefore I can do, or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again." As such, June was a tireless volunteer and leader for countless charity organizations in the Rio Grande Valley. She served the community in some of the following organizations: Valley Zoological Foundation Society, Gladys Porter Zoo, Cameron-Willacy County Medical Alliance Northern Chapter, Valley Baptist Hospital, The American Heart Association, Harlingen Rotary, St. Anthony's Church, Queen of Peace Catholic Church and PEO to name but a few.
Having practiced as a public health nurse and losing her father to cancer, June was a most passionate advocate for better health care for all and for finding a cure for cancer. She truly believed in the American Cancer Society's goal of eliminating cancer as a major health problem. She began serving the American Cancer Society through the only community outreach program they had at the time, "block walks" in 1971. Using her creative talents and network of wonderful friends, she spent the next forty years bringing to the Valley some of the American Cancer Society's most successful fund raising efforts. Undoubtedly, the most successful is the "Relay for Life". With a small group of volunteers, June brought the first “Relay for Life” to the Rio Grande Valley, the second "Relay for Life" in the state of Texas, over 18 years ago. By 2004, over 30 "Relay for Life" events had taken place in other parts of the Valley, with over 50,000 individuals participating and together working towards finding a cure.
June is the recipient of countless awards. A few of note include being awarded one of the most prestigious honors bestowed by the American Cancer Society, the Distinguished Member of the Society in 2001 and in 2007 being awarded the Lillian Lamon Crystal Heart by the American Heart Association. June has been appointed and elected to over 20 various Unit and Divisional boards as well as multiple national boards and committees of the American Cancer Society. As one esteemed American Cancer Society regional directly recently remarked, "June believed in our mission and genuinely worked towards making a difference for so many every single day."
A beloved wife, mom, mother-in-law, grandmother and dear friend to so many, her infectious positive attitude and never-ending example to put the needs of others ahead of your own will be greatly missed. A poem kept by June’s bed sums up the way June lived her life, "When morning breaks and I face the day, This dear Lord, is what I pray, That when the same day turns to gray, Some child of yours may be happier be, May find himself more close to Thee, Because I lived this day!"
Her seemingly unending love, patience and support will be missed most by her surviving family of husband, Dr. George Jefferson Toland, Jr., sons: George Jefferson Toland, III (of Anaheim Hills, CA), Cary Michael Toland (of Brownsville), and John Stephen Toland (of Austin); their spouses, Peter, Maggie and Debbie and five grand children, Cary, Brighton, Spencer, Bentlee and Boden; and numerous cousins.
Funeral services will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Harlingen, Texas, Tuesday, May 22 at 11:00 a.m. with a burial service to follow at Buena Vista Memorial Park in Brownsville. A rosary will be held on Monday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Harlingen. Arrangements are being handled by the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen, where a memorial book will be available for signing on Monday, May 21. Memorial gifts in June's memory can be made to the American Cancer Society, Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville or to the St. Anthony's Church "Building Fund".
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