A memorial service for Toni Raczynski of Mountain Home, Arkansas, will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Mountain Home, with Reverend Jim McDonald officiating.
Toni passed away October 29, 2015, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 74. She was born on September 29, 1941, in Sheridan, Wyoming, the daughter of Gaylen and Elsie Kelley. She married John Raczynski on February 11, 1961, at Chicago, Illinois, and worked as a registered nurse in Leland, Illinois and Mountain Home, Arkansas. Toni raised Friesian horses in Illinois and Arkansas and competed in equestrian driving competitions. After falling in love with Mountain Home, Toni and her husband moved here in 1997. Toni volunteered her time and gave access to her beautiful horses, Liberty and Magic, to the Black Stallion Literacy Project, Horse Tales Literacy Project, and Horse Power Literacy Program. Toni enjoyed her years working as a nurse at Baxter Regional Medical Center. After she retired, Toni wrote and published a science-fiction book, The Sontas. After her husband's death, she moved to Ocala, Florida, to be near family. She returned to Mountain Home in 2015. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Mountain Home. Toni was a wonderful friend and a very loving person. Left to cherish her memories are her many local friends, as well as her good friend Pokie Zitka from Illinois. She will also be missed by her special friend, William Vaughn from Ocala, Florida.
Toni is survived by one son, Michael Raczynski of Theodosia, MO; one sister, Pat (Marvin) Mueske of Gamaliel, AR; one sister-in-law, Thecla "Tosha" Pinkowski of St. Petersburg, FL; one brother-in-law, Ted Raczynski of Manchester, England; two nieces, Pam Riley of Mountain Home, AR, and Chris Hamil of Tarpon Springs, FL; three nephews, Jason Mueske of Columbia, MO, Paul (Polly) Pinkowski of St. Petersburg, FL, and Peter (Leslie) Raczynski; three grandchildren, Jonathan, Haley, and Nathan; and three great-grandchildren, Oliver, Juliette, and Sterling.
Toni was preceded in death by her parents; a son, David; a stepfather, Arvie Walters, and her husband.
Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of North Central Arkansas, or the Horse Power Literacy Program through Mountain Home Public Schools, or the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Mountain Home.
Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.