After a life of love and quiet grace, Shirley Gene Toombs of Payette, ID has passed.
Here is the shape of a life remembered with love.
Years are made of mornings, and mornings of moments.
With deep love, we announce the passing of Shirley Gene Toombs, born September 10, 1949, in Columbus, Missouri, who passed peacefully at home on April 30, 2026—her 61st wedding anniversary—with her children by her side, under the exceptional care of White Oak Hospice, with Loretta Lynn gospel music playing.Shirley was a strong and resilient woman, known for her toughness and unwavering spirit. She could be sharp in her words, but she would just as quickly turn around and remind you she didn’t mean it. Shirley liked excitement. When life became too quiet, she had a way of stirring things up to keep it interesting. Beneath that strength and the ups and downs of life, was a deep and steady love, expressed through her care and concern for others.She was a writer, a doodler, an artist, and a songwriter. Most of all, she enjoyed leaving notes hidden throughout her home for her family to find—messages that will continue to speak long after her passing.She was born to Enoch Tillman Villines and Iva Nadine Peden-Moore-Pollock and attended school in Payette. She married William Melton Toombs, Jr., her childhood sweetheart, and together they built a life centered on family.Shirley worked at Central Produce and Maudie Owens Café until her retirement. She was devoted to her Pentecostal faith and loved to sing, shop, and collect antiques. She was also a skilled businesswoman who enjoyed buying, selling, and making a fair deal.She is survived by her children: Joyce (Phillip) Douglas of Ontario; William Kirt Toombs Sr. (Patricia) of Payette; and Michael (Brandy) Toombs ofPayette; her grandchildren: Mathew (Dani) Douglas of Payette, Kimberly Douglas of Payette, Heather Douglas of Fruitland, Jacob (Jessica) Douglas of Payette, William Kirt Toombs Jr. “KJ” (Kristin) Toombs of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Kassandra Toombs of Fruitland; as well as her great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.She was preceded in death by her husband, William Melton Toombs, Jr.; her parents; and her siblings, Ruthie French, Barbara Goff, Janice Lewin, and Arlis Villines.A graveside service will be held Friday, May 8th at Riverside Cemetery in Payette at 3:30 p.m., with a reception to follow at the Payette Portia Club, 225 North 9th Street, Payette.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) in support of survivors of childhood trauma and individuals living with mental health disabilities—causes that reflected Shirley’s strength and resilience.
