Murray Alton "M.A." "Big M" Toney, Jr.

"A native of McComb, Miss. and longtime resident of Baton Rouge, he passed away Monday night, March 27, 2017. He was 88, a World War II veteran and staff sergeant in the U.S. Army who served in the Philippines and Korea. He leaves behind a devoted wife of 66 years, Mona Lee Mire Toney; six children, John "J.T." Toney and wife Pamela (Yonts); Charles "Chuck" Toney and wife Brenda (Allen), Cynthia Toney Kelley and husband Warren A. "Joe" Kelley, Jr., Stephen Toney and wife Carol (Hoffman); Christopher Toney and wife Angela (Peters), and Patrick Toney and wife Michelle (Carriere). He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Christopher Damian Agosta, Adam Agosta and wife Lauren, Kristen Agosta Shanks and husband Albert, Morgan Kelley Thomas and husband Herb, Alex Toney, Leah Toney Landry and husband Colby, Clint Toney, Douglas Toney, Erin Kelley Smith and husband Justin, Laura Kelley Wilson and husband Trevor, Alexis Toney, Alyssa Toney, and Grayson Toney, as well as numerous great grandchildren, including two on the way. His brother, Charles Francis Toney; sister-in-law, Margie Lowry Toney; brother-in-law, Glenn Bittner; in-laws, James E. Mire and wife Dorothy, and Robert E. Mire and wife Marlena, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive him. M.A. was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Toney Klein and her husband William Klein; his parents, Murray Alton Toney, Sr. and Hattye Olive Smith Toney; his sister, Patricia Olive "Pat" Toney Bittner; and his brothers, Ralph Smith Toney and Kendall Kirby Toney. M.A. retired from Exxon as a First Line Supervisor in Mechanical after over 30 years of service and later retired from LSU with more than 10 years of service. His gregarious spirit, quick-witted sense of humor, and love for his large family will be missed, but his family takes comfort in the fact that he died in relative independence, still checking the mail and taking out the trash and being neighborly until the very end. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Mike Schatzle at St. George Catholic Church, Baton Rouge, on Friday, March 31 at 11:30 a.m., preceded by visitation at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. A graveside service will take place after the Mass at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, followed by a memorial reception at St. George Catholic Church Kleinpeter Activity Center at 1:30 p.m. An informal gathering will then follow at the home of Stephen and Carol Toney. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Christopher Damian Agosta, Adam Agosta, Alex Toney, and Douglas Toney; nephew, Robert Emile "Chad" Mire, Jr.; and grandsons-in-law, Colby Landry, Justin Smith, and Herb Thomas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Rabenhorst Funeral Home East.