Sylvia "Toni" Olden

Sylvia Antoinette "Toni" DeMers Olden, 78, passed away on May 14, 2024 at her home in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She was born on July 28, 1945, in Springfield, Missouri, and led a life filled with compassion, intelligence, and creativity.

Toni's academic pursuits were equally remarkable, beginning with a Sociology Major from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. She furthered her education by obtaining her first master's degree from the University of California, Pomona, followed by another master's degree in Southern California. Toni's journey encompassed a rich tapestry of experiences. She embarked on her professional path as a social worker in Talequa, Oklahoma, before transitioning to a successful 30-year tenure as a mortgage banker at Merrill-Lynch in California. 

Described as highly intelligent, Toni's vibrant personality shone through her various hobbies and interests. She was known as a jewelry artisan and enjoyed all forms of art, including painting, drawing, and jewelry making. In her later years, she found solace in traveling the world, channeling her creativity into painting scenes of her travels. She especially loved her basset hounds!

Toni is preceded in death by her grandparents, Sheriff Harvey and Martha White Powell; her parents, Albert P. and Nathalea Powell DeMers, and her beloved husband, Russell Olden. She leaves behind cherished memories with surviving family members and friends including Russell's children, Russell Olden of Boulder, CO; and Kelly Olden of California; and their children, Skyleigh, Lynzie, Teagan, and Jaxson; niece, Tona DeMers of North Little Rock, AR; and her cousin, Julie (Sam Ermey) Wright of Mountain Home, AR.

In celebrating the life of Sylvia Antoinette "Toni" DeMers Olden, we honor the legacy of a remarkable individual who touched the hearts of many through her kindness, intellect, and unwavering spirit. May her memory continue to inspire all those who knew her. We will celebrate the life she lived at 11:00 am, Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Mr. Jeff Quick officiating. Burial will be in the Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery, Monkey Run, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Baxter County Library Foundation, the Mountain Home Education Foundation, or the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.