James Toner

Tallahassee, James (Jim) Patrick Toner, age 79, passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, North Carolina.

A native of Clearwater, Florida, he was the son of the late Patrick and Mary Veronica Toner.  Jim attended St. Leo Preparatory School located in St. Leo, Florida.  He was a member of the last graduating class.  St. Leo then became a college where he was in the inaugural class.  He received his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of South Florida where he also completed the course work for his masters in English.

His career spanned over 40 years in the newspaper business.  He wrote for the Daytona Beach Journal, Bradenton Morning Call, Clearwater Sun, Tampa Tribune and the Orlando Sentinel. His love was writing, being a reporter and the latter stage of his career as a columnist.  He was also an editor, highlighted as the Deputy Managing Editor of the Orlando Sentinel.  Elections and hurricanes were his specialty.  He could predict a landfall better than any meteorologist. Jim missed writing, however as an editor he was able to nurture, mentor and allow a whole generation of reporters in Orlando to grow and reach their potential.

His four children, and now grandchildren, all attended Florida State University.  Jim became a fixture at everything FSU, usually with a grandchild, especially at football, basketball and baseball games.  There he established great friendships with those that shared an aisle or section with him.  You could also find him at soccer, softball, volleyball and track and field events.  If the team wore garnet and gold, he was there.

Donations may be made in his memory to either Wolfson Children’s Hospital, www.wolfsonchildrens.com/give/donate, or Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, rmhcjax.ejoinme.org/MyPages/DonationPage/tabid/312251/Default.aspx.  Jim’s great-granddaughter, Tinley, was born in February of 2019 with a heart defect.  Wolfson’s and Ronald McDonald House have always taken care of his little girl.

Jim will be interred in the columbarium at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Tallahassee, FL on Saturday, July 18, 2020.  His family and friends plan a celebration of Jim’s life on Saturday, July 25, 2020 in San Antonio, Florida.

Jim is survived by his dear wife of 60 years, JoAnn Storch Toner; one daughter, Kelly Toner of San Antonio, Florida; three sons, Kenneth Toner of North Carolina, Sean Toner, and his wife, Arlene, of Tallahassee, Florida and Edward Toner of Tallahassee, Florida; five grandchildren, Sean Patrick, Seamus, and Colleen Toner, and David and Alex Gonzalez; and one great-grandchild, Tinley Toner.

A memorial Mass was held on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Maggie Valley with Father Christopher Bond officiating.

The care of Mr. Toner has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.