Florence Bernedene Toms

Florence Bernedene Tarr Mclsaac Toms was born January 22, 1916 in Woodward, Iowa to Harry Don and Esther Lois Grimm Tarr. She died April 25, 2011 in Fort Collins, Colorado at the age of 95. When `Bernie' was eight years old, the Tarr family moved from Iowa to Platner, Colorado. She was the eldest of four children, with twin sisters Lois and Lola and her brother, Alden. Bernie graduated from Platner High School in 1933. She attended Barnes Business College in Denver, Colorado and then worked as a secretary for the Rocky Mountain Electrical Association, secretary for Electrical Publications, and manager of circulation of Hayward Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois.
Upon her return to Denver in 1947, she met and married H. J. Mclsaac. When her husband's health worsened and he had to leave his employ with Public Service Company of Colorado, they moved to Arrowhead Lodge, in Poudre Canyon, working for Bernie's sister and brother in law, Lola and Stan Case. After two summers at Arrowhead, the Mclsaacs purchased and then ran Sportsman's Lodge, Poudre Canyon, Colorado. After her husband's death in 1972, Bernie continued to run Sportsmans Lodge for the next 16 years. Bernie was fortunate to spend her winters in Mesa, Arizona. It was there that she met Al Toms "over a bridge table." They became good friends and were married in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1988. They continued to run Sportsman's Lodge until it was sold in 1992 to John and LeeAnn Schenk. The Toms made their home in Fort Collins, Colorado and in Mesa, Arizona after they sold the Lodge. Upon the death of Mr. Toms in 2007, Bernie made Fort Collins her fulltime home, living the last three years of her life at Turnberry Place in Fort Collins. Bernie was preceded in death by her parents Don and Esther Tarr; sister, Lola Case and brother Alden Tarr,; two husbands, H. J. Mclsaac and Albert Toms; and great niece, Abigale French. Bernie is survived by her sister, Lois Smith; step son, Steve Toms Holly and step daughter Virginia Clark Don; three step grandsons, Jason Toms, Trevor Dianich and Satha Boyd; six nieces, Kay Orr Keith, Linda RountreeMike, Sheryl Haise Larry, Becky WagemanRich, Christy FrenchTom, and Sandra LundtJack; and ten great nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover, Street, Fort Collins, Colorado. Memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice or Respite Care, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive Street, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.