Toni M. Rowley passed away Tuesday morning, March 6, 2012 at Renown Medical Center in Reno. She was 85.

Toni was born in San Leandro, California, on May 14, 1926, the daughter of Antone DeCorte and Annie Marie (Villena) DeCorte. Toni was the fifth child of this union. In 1944, Toni married a marine, Donald F. Shepard, Jr. of Syracuse, NY, stationed at Oak Knoll Navel Hospital in Oakland, California. This marriage produced five children: Donald F. Shepard III, Veronica A., Michael A, Robert and Anne. This marriage ended in 1959, and in 1962 Toni married a career Navy man stationed at Alameda, California. Clyde L. Rowley brought into this marriage four children: Robert, Bruce, Stephen and Lynda Jean. Clyde and Toni had one son, Mark.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clyde (1995); her brother Joseph (1981) her sisters Anne Marie Riva (1993), Frances Ramirez Peixoto(1996), Margaret Garwood (1998), Connie Doggett (1999), Mary Ann Moreira (2007) and Juanita DeMello (2011) and her step-son Stephen Rowley (2007).
In 1997, Irene Straw sent her brother-in-law Walter (Bob) Straw to Toni's home to reinforce her honeysuckle plant; a friendship started and they soon became fishing buddies and traveling companions to Arizona, Alaska and Texas. The years she spent with Walter were among the happiest years of her life; he was a caring, loving companion until his death in May of 2000.

Toni is survived by her children, Donald F. Shepard III, Veronica Rowley (Robert), Michael Shepard (Kelly), Robert Shepard (Connie) , Annie Hardie (Alan) and Mark Rowley (Barbi), step-children, Robert Rowley, Bruce Rowley, and Lynda Jean Hammond (Gib). She is also survived by three of her siblings, Tony DeCorte (Yerington), Lillian Martinez (California) and Louise Weston (Ohio).
Having 10 children combined, there were many grandchildren. From Don: Denise, Kelly, Teresa, Melissa, Scott, Shannon, Johnathon, Colleen, Crystal, Sean and Sandia; from Veronica: Christopher, Rhonda, Pamela and Rebekah; from Michael: Brian, Corey, Annie, Amy and Jeremy; From Robert: Tony and Josie; from Annie: Matt and Thom; from Mark: Randy and Adam; from Robert: Josh, Cascia and Rand; from Bruce: JoAnna, Bruce, Jory, Megan, Danielle, Jack and Erica; from Stephen: Seth, Kyrra, Simone, Devyn, Soren and Caitlin; from Lynda Jean: Janae, Adam, Bethany, Ethan, Justin and Emily. She also leaves behind many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Toni's funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 10th at 2:00 pm at the Freitas-Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 in Yerington. Burial will be held 11:00 am Monday, March 12th at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.

Family and friends are invited to sign her online guest book at www.FRFH.net. Sympathy cards may be sent to his family from this site.

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, 25 Hwy 208 Yerington, NV 89447 (775) 463-2911.

Donations may be made in Toni's name to the Salvation Army.