All Members Must Read This- Tone

[webdog]

Just heard today. I am glad to have met Tone and wheeled with him at Moab.
My ride still sports mods from him. I will think of Tone each time I drive my VX.

[Reg Hinnant]

Tone was as unique as the VX he loved. Very sad to see him leave so young.
Godspeed, the only wise speed at which to live........

[tomdietrying]

Someone brought it up, but it was never answered. How did Tone pass away?
Peace.
Tom

[zadam123]

RIP, This board wont be the same. My thoughts and prayers to his family

[geshaw30]

Someone brought it up, but it was never answered. How did Tone pass away?
Peace.
Tom

Too early to tell yet Tom. It will be a few weeks before test results return and even then it's up to family members to release that information. We might not ever know.

[LittleBeast]

I have not replied yet to this thread, because I was initially out of town on a mission trip to serve people at South Padre. I was heading up the stairs to one of our daily leaders meetings when Lisa called me and told me the news. I was shocked and upset and it was hard to keep from crying. I prayed with Lisa for Tone before getting off the phone and then went into the leader meeting and told a few people in there and some leaders from various colleges around the country lifted up our beloved Tone and his family in prayer. I later was able to use the story of Tone's passing to remind other people of how fragile and precious life is. In fact there were many people who rededicated their lives to the Lord and others who prayed to receive Christ for the 1st time after a discussion where I did mention the passing of one of my close friends back home. I really regret not being able to be there for the service I had a track meet in which I was coaching many athletes, but I was there in heart.

I don't really know why Tone and I grew so close in this last year, nor why God allowed us to have some many meaningful and deep conversations, but none the less for over the past 4 years of my life I have grown ever closer and have learned to respect Tone and all that he lived for, and desired to be more and more each time I saw him. The last 2 times I hung out with Tone were amazing! He came in town to visit his brother in Houston, and while here he and I caught one of the college football games at a local sports bar and afterward we sat in his Benz for over 4 hours in one of the most moving emotional and heart wrenching conversations I have had in my life. We grew so much closer and we both came away with such a better understanding and perspective of each other, and the #1 thing that I love now more than ever that I took away from that conversation was a peace and a knowledge in my heart that Tone had a relationship with God and he was not trusting on himself to buy his way into God's grace's but trusted in God to make a way for him and saw that this way was through the cross of Christ. I know we have different views and belief's on this forum and I am in no way trying to preach here, just simply saying that for me personally it was a comfort to see Tone acknowledge that he was not trusting on his own ability to please God but was trusting in His Creator to save Him, and I feel God has. The next day we had Denny's for breakfast and discussed various churches and beliefs and tons of other things and it was just great to see this deeper side of Tone beyond all the amazing knowledge of all things cars the man was blessed with.

The next time we hung out was actually at his brother's house in Houston, where Tone and his brother were putting some drywall up in the garage using a busted up old drywall lift and somehow I got power steering fluid and a very small piece of metal stuck in my eye from crawling up under the VX. Tone was debating on getting some Nitto Dune Grapplers for the Benz before Moab this year but I don't think anyone was supposed to know that Then he and I had many great phone calls and conversation about various things, relationships, cars, and the like. He was the first one 2 weeks ago I called and asked about my muffler which had broken off from the flange to the header and he knew exactly what I was talking about and sent me photos to help with the repair in under 10 mins. He then went and tried to find the part I needed. Then the day before Tone passed He and I were talking about the new 3rd members I just got. The last text I got from Tone was at 9:36pm on 3/13/09, the day before his passing. He was still offering his garage/shop for us to install the 3rd members and do the diff drop. Now I really wish I would've taken him up on his offer sooner, not so I would get the work done, but because I could have had some more time with Tone. I know most of you feel the same and I am proud to call myself a small part of this great VehiCross family. We have lost a dear friend and an amazing man, but he shall forever live on (in heaven with God I believe) in our hearts and minds and memories. His value to this site and to those who knew him is to great to be measured, but Tone know that we miss you, and may you rest in eternity with Your Creator as you rest in our hearts and minds.

[Baldwin]

OH MY GOSH!!! I have the chills! I am in total shock! So young! He was one of the first VX guys I met!

[E-ZooZoo One]

I just learned of this devastating news only today.

After reading all of the previous heartfelt messages, I find myself wishing that I’d had more contact with Tone, and deeply regret that I never had the opportunity to meet him in person.


Kathy and I offer our prayers and condolences to Tony’s family, friends, and the VehiCROSS community that will all miss him so.


With deepest sympathies,
J.R. Smiley

[taylorRichie]

I never met him, only had a few business dealings with him, and have read many of his posts.

Rest in Peace buddy... I think we would have got along just fine.

[Vasha13]

Thanks George for posting this, everyone knows I am not good with words. This is an aweful time for us, but he is in a much better place. It would have been sometime the night of 3/14.

So sorry to hear this Lisa - thanks for letting me know. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you out.

thx j

[carlymac]

I like many of you have been around for years. Throughout those years there were always a few people you could turn to for answers about this funny little truck we all love. Tone Monday was one of the first "go to" people. He not only researched and developed parts and aftermarkets for the VX he would talk you through the installation, even if that meant an hour on the phone while you were under your VX.
His foresight and compassion was known by all who would ask and then listen.
I don't visit the site as much as I once did and the news of Tone's death has me remembering the good times and good friends I have enjoyed here on the forum and at the various gatherings I have attended.
Let us all reflect on Tone's life and remember all the good that this man did. If not for us personally, for us as fellow VehiCROSSers.

God Speed Tone in your journey home.

Carl McCoy (carlymac)

[Maverick]

the world just got a little dimmer...

[driver3]

I haven't been to the site in quite a while, I remember Tone from Moab V. What a great guy... he will be missed.

[geoman-01]

Very sad news indeed. Although I haven't been active on this site
for several years, I remember Tone all so well. Great guy...

[Petos]

Just found out.... sad, sad news...

When I bought my first VX 4 years back in Moscow, I placed one of my first messages on this forum, and Tone offered to send me 2 CDs with VX stuff and Workshop free of charge, all the way to Moscow... this is how I learned about the true "Vehicross community spirit"

I am offering my condolences to friends and family on behalf of all Russian Vehicross enthusiasts...... we will miss you, Tone

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...highlight=Tone