Belle Louise Shamblin Tone
Belle Louise Shamblin Tone died peacefully Friday, July 19, 2019 at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Horace J. and Mary L. Shamblin; husband, Van A. Tone; son, Toney Van Tone; brother, Gordon Shamblin.
Survivors include nephews, Charles (Sonja) Shamblin of Soddy Daisy and David Shamblin of Brentwood, Tennessee; former daughter-in-law, Glenda Tone Barrett of Rossville.
Mrs. Tone was a longtime resident of the Red Bank area and was educated in the Chattanooga Public Schools. She was a proud member of the Central High School Class of 1938. Mrs. Tone spent her working career as a secretary beginning in 1955 as a secretary for the Chattanooga Junior League’s Reading Center on the University of Chattanooga Campus. She went from there to working as the full time executive secretary for the Junior League and the Chattanooga Cotton Ball Association for the next 20 and 25 years, respectively. She regarded those years as the most enjoyable of her life, and her beautiful, distinctive handwriting graced Cotton Ball invitations for many years.
She also had a lifelong interest in the real estate business, like her mother, and was constantly buying, selling, and managing all types of rental properties. From the 1960’s to the 1990’s she and a small group of likeminded women had numerous properties in the Main Street and Highland Park area. She was the last of her “Highland Park Girls.”
Mrs. Tone was active until the last three years of her life, going to restaurants and traveling with her longtime companion, Mr. John Hasek. They especially liked traveling, and took their last cruise when they both were in their 90’s. This all in spite of a massive stroke, over 20 years ago, that took most of her speaking ability, and bouts with two different types of cancer. We especially thank Dr. Liezella Jurgens, her longtime physician, and the staff at Memorial Hospital for their excellent care. We also thank the staff at Kindred Hospice and Home Comforts, and the loving care she received from their employee, Mrs. Evelyn Russell.
She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church downtown, and attended Red Bank Presbyterian Church in the years before her death. She was a life member of Beta Sigma Phi and supported numerous charities. Her favorite was Bethel Bible Village, and the family asks any memorial gifts be made to them.
A private entombment will be held.
Please share your thought and memories at www.chattnaooganorthchapel.com.