Ernest Toms Obituary

Ernest Toms
Born August 21, 1934 in Naubinway, Michigan. Ernie was the 3rd of 6 children born to Dorman and Julia Toms. The family moved to Richmond, CA in 1939, and Ernie sold papers at the shipyards. In 1945, at the age of 11, he and his family moved to Cottonwood, CA to a 130-acre dairy farm. While working and milking cows in the early mornings and late evenings, Ernie went through Cottonwood Elementary Schools and Anderson Union High Schools and still managed to excel at football, basketball and track and field, graduating from AUHS in 1952.
In 1950, Betty Hencratt moved next door, and for Betty and Ernie, it was "love at first sight." They started going together right away and were married two years later in 1952. They stayed married for 48 years until Betty's death in 2000.
Ernie worked at Music's and the Paul Bunyan Sawmill, hauled hay, and then in 1963 he went to work for Shasta County on the Road Crew. In 1981 he was promoted to Special Crew Foreman and was in charge of bridge building and maintenance in Shasta County until his retirement in 1995.
In 2005, five years after the passing of his wife Betty, an angel named Geneva Drinkwater appeared to Ernie and they made each other's lives complete. The two remained happily married for 20 years until Ernie's passing. Ernie liked to say he was a lucky guy, "because (he) struck gold twice." Ernie loved his family, friends and neighbors. He was a mentor to his two children, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren. He loved watching sports, especially Hayfork athletics where his daughter coached, and his grandchildren played football, basketball, and baseball, and he never missed a single game. He enjoyed traveling, especially to Lake Tahoe for the family's annual grand reunions, and to Fort Klamath to relax by the Wood River.
Ernie was pre-deceased by his first wife Betty Hencratt Toms, son Gary, parents Dorman and Julia, sisters Joan Sugars and Margaret Webb, and his brother Louis Edward.
He leaves behind his wife Geneva, sisters Burdetta Moore and Millie Lofgren, daughter Ronda Gonzalez (Jim), grandsons Nick, Alex, Ryan and Sean, along with 2 great grandchildren Anthony and Rory, along with many extended family members.
Ernie passed peacefully with family by his side on July 12 th 2025, at 90 years of age.
Viewing: Thursday July 17 th, 6pm-8pm St. Annes Catholic Church, Cottonwood, CA 96022
Services: Friday July 18 th, 10a.m. @ St. Annes Catholic Church, Cottonwood, CA
Burial immediately following at the Cottonwood Cemetery.
Reception afterward at Cottonwood Community Center ( 20595 Gas Point Rd, Cottonwood, CA 96022 )
Arrangements are being handled by Allen and Dahl Funeral Chapel in Anderson (530) 365-5466