Valerie Toy

Valerie Toy (nee Valerie Patton), 84, born on June 23, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri, passed away August 6, 2013. She resided in Los Angeles, California, at the time of her passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA.
Mrs. Valerie Toy, as she liked to be known, was a much loved homemaker, mother, sister, and aunt to her family and extended family. One of fifteen children she enjoyed a vibrant childhood. She was a quick learner who worked as a youth for local doctors and other professionals after school. Through these jobs she was exposed to a world of learning that was her passion throughout her life.
She grew into a vivacious young woman who soon captured the attention of restaurant owner, Sher Ock (Fred )Toy, in whose business she worked as a waitress. Fred, a Chinese immigrant, was smitten with the petite and beautiful young Negro waitress. She was soon assisting Mr. Toy, managing the business and supervising staff.
Valerie married Fred in September 26, 1950. Into the marriage Valerie brought her daughter from a previous relationship, Larrainia, who Fred adopted as his own. Their mixed marriage flaunted the racism prevalent at the time. Nonetheless the business thrived and soon daughter Peggy was born. Seeking greater opportunities the family moved to Los Angeles in 1954 where Fred became a partner in a local downtown restaurant with other Chinese owners who embraced the family.
Valerie prized her role as a mother and instilled a thirst for knowledge and education in her daughters. An avid reader she read the newspaper daily and several newsmagazines of the time. She viewed herself as a world citizen. She became a student of history and was knowledgeable about world civilizations. Though a Christian she learned about other religions including Islam and Buddhism.
Wanting her daughters to surpass the sixth grade education she received, she placed them in private Catholic schools as a means of accessing quality education. To supplement the family income to support her children's private education she took in laundry like many other women of her generation and worked part time jobs when necessary, and babysat the children of family and friends.
Demonstrating the value of education and a love for the fields of health and medicine, she attended Crenshaw-Dorsey Community Adult School Nursing Assistant Certificate Program and graduated June 17, 1977. It was with great pride that she showed her graduation certificate to her daughters. Earlier daughter Larrainia, at age 15 became a Candy Stripper youth hospital volunteer which was another source of pride. That both daughters graduated from high school and obtained advanced college degrees remained a constant source of pride and fulfillment of her role as a mother. Both daughters work in health and medicine another achievement she claimed as her own.
In her later years, she turned to creative writing inspired by a desire to leave a legacy for her beloved grandson Brian. She wrote several illustrated children's stories modeling the child protagonist on Brian. She also wrote a draft of a biographical novel of her years with Fred told against the backdrop of the internment of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. during World War II and the Tong street gangs that plagued Chinese immigrant communities at the time. She was seeking publication of her manuscripts prior to her decline in health.
She and Fred separated in 1956. But they remained lifelong friends. She was proud to be Mrs. Toy and continued to wear the title as a widow long after Fred's passing in 1971. She never remarried.
After a long illness she was hospitalized at St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica and died peacefully August 6, 2013 at 5am. She is survived by daughter Larrainia Patton Goodloe , husband Alfred Goodloe; daughter Peggy Toy McAllister , husband Steven (Stevie Mack) McAllister; grandson Brian Goodloe, his daughters, Larissa and Amber; sister Goldie Mae Patton (Sister Tauheevah Najeeullah), husband Tariq Najee Ahmad; niece Dani Yassar, husband Mustafa Yassar, sons Mustafa Jr and Makeen; and nephew Charlie Jackson and his wife Flo. The Patton Spearman Thomas family: niece Sugie Mayo-Thomas, husband Richard Thomas; Sugie's daughters Sahsheik, Iesha, Ginger, Nicky and granddaughter Kahlia; nieces Barbara Spearman, Misty Bell, and nephews Grover C Spearman III and Grover (Shorts) Spearman. Sisters Ione Allen and Theresa Patton. And dear friend Helen Sorrell who cared for her for several years.
In addition to her husband Fred Toy, she is predeceased by sisters Barbara Jean Patton Spearman, Dorothea Patton Jackson, Mavis Patton, Lillian Patton, Tiny Patton, brothers Verdale, Nicky, and Marvin Patton, nephews Nash and Stevie Spearman.