"Toni" (born Shirley) Diane Beener was born to Elmer and Martha (Davies) Burden of Lima on May 7, 1942 and passed away in Lima, Ohio on June 3, 2026.

Born the youngest of five children, she often dreamed of turning her childhood adventures into a memoir. She married Bruce Beener (Covington, OH) on August 3, 1984 on Villa Nova beach at sunrise which led them to a lucrative career in sculptural art with Water Woodlands Driftwood Arts using driftwood from the lake and ceramic sculptures to capture nature scenes. Several pieces traveled the world and for which they won many awards.

Toni had five children, two sons and a grandson preceded her death along with her beloved Bruce. Tami (Jeff) Cox: Tiffany, Katrina, Tesla. Vinson (D) (Debi) Williams: Michael, Tara, Jessica (Chris Vincent), Tabitha, Amanda and Jacob. Julie (Broad) Knight: Trisha, Nevaeh. Brent (D) (Loretta) Williams: Joshua (D), Jonathan, Justin and Jacob. Heather (Anthony) Warner: Celine, Alyssa. She was blessed with seventeen grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren and two great-great grandsons.

She wasn't just mom and grandma. Toni was an avid baker winning numerous awards, a writer for WKKI advertising, a feature writer for the Evening Leader (Long live Hoedag) and an artist of multiple mediums including sculpture, painting, photography and digital art. Toni was an active member of Grace Fellowship where she taught Sunday school and helped with the community dinners until Covid and the death of Bruce. As an avid artist and St. Marys community supporter she sat on the board for the Riverside Art Center (now St. Marys Art Center) where many of her photography and digital art pieces were featured. Many of her digital art prints were award winners and even featured in a digital art exhibit at a gallery in Soho in New York City. But the most important role she played, her greatest award was always mom and grandma.

Both Toni and Bruce loved St. Marys, the community and life they built there - from rooting for the Roughriders, to attending functions and trying to be active community members. They leave many dear friends and associates behind as they now start a new journey together.

For those choosing to pay respects, funeral services will be held at Miller Funeral Home in St. Marys on Wednesday June 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The Rev. Bev Hurlburt will officiate the services. Burial will follow at the Elm Grove Cemetery in St. Marys.

Visitation 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed and memories shared with Toni's Family via: www.millerfuneralhomes.net or the Miller Funeral Homes Facebook Page.