Toni Margaret Zabala (Tilley), 59, passed away at her home Jan. 6, after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer.

Toni was born April 8, 1960, in Burns, to Larry Gene Tilley and Lila Marie Tilley. Toni was the final addition to the family, joining her older siblings, Randy Wenick, Candy Wenick, and Lindsey Wenick. Toni lived in Burns throughout her childhood and was active in athletics, rodeo, and the Harney County Fair Court. After graduating from Burns Union High School in 1978, Toni attended Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, where she studied and played volleyball. Toni returned to Burns in 1979, where she was hired on with the United States Forest Service.

Toni valued hard work, and she left this impression at all of the jobs that she held. Toni worked a variety of jobs at the Forest Service, including marking timber and working in civiculture. Toni also held jobs at High Desert Beverage and the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center where she worked with livestock.

Toni married Pedro Zabala Jr. on July 10, 1982. After their marriage, Toni’s family grew immensely as she was welcomed with open arms to the local Basque community. Together Pedro and Toni began to grow their family, beginning with their first daughter, Amaya Marie Zabala (Adkins) of La Grande in 1986, and their second daughter, Mattea Margaret Zabala (Colahan) of Klamath Falls in 1991. While raising her daughters, Toni was immensely supportive of both her daughters participation in local athletics, as well as a supportive figure to the local community through her time in various 4-H programs and youth athletics.

Toni will always be remembered for her larger-than-life personality and the love she had for her family and friends.  Toni is survived by her husband of 37 years, Pedro; daughter, Amaya, and son-in-law, Andy Adkins, with their children, Kasyn Adkins and Kepa Adkins; and daughter, Mattea, and son-in-law, Carraig Colahan, with their son, Deacon Colahan, and unborn child due in July. Toni is also survived by her mother, Lila Tilley; brother, Lindsey (Wanda) Wenick; and sister, Candy (Curt) Calkins.

Toni was preceded in death by her father, Larry, brother, Randy Wenick; and her in-laws, Pedro and Elvira Zabala.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances be made to Harney County CAN Cancer, 557 W. Washington St., Burns, OR 97720 or Harney County Hospice, 415 N. Fairview Ave., Burns, OR 97720.