Mrs. Marianne M. Toombs died of cancer in her home in Springfield, Missouri among close family and friends Wednesday, August 18, 2010. Born in Cape Town South Africa, she was preceded in death by her father and step-mother Bill and Bobby Hepner of Johannesburg, South Africa, mother and adoptive step-father Lucie and Goetz Mayer of Philadelphia, PA, husband Bryan Y. Toombs, son Bryan C. Toombs, and daughter Lynne Toombs Datema. Mrs. Toombs is survived by her half-brother Richard Hepner of Cape Town, South Africa, half-sister and brother-in-law Marie and Barry Canin of South Africa, brother- and sister-in-law David and Jeanne Toombs and family of Springfield, MO, sister-in-law Barbra Wright and family of Springfield, MO, son-in-law James W. Datema and his wife Janet P. Datema of St. Louis MO, grandson Adam Toombs Datema, granddaughter Brin Claire Datema and step-granddaughter Emily J. Kim of St. Louis, MO, and closest friends Marcel Bonnabeau of Paris, France, and Jane H. Fast of Springfield, MO. As a child, Mrs. Toombs attended Abington Friends School in Philadelphia, PA, Guilford College in North Carolina, and graduated from the University of Michigan with bachelor's and master's degrees in social work. Mrs. Toombs then worked as editor of TV Guide in Philadelphia, PA and later Washington, DC where she met her husband Bryan Y. Toombs. As a young couple Mr. and Mrs. Toombs lived in Paris, France, Frankfurt, Germany, Montreal, Canada, Jackson, MI, then settled in Springfield, MO where they founded Ozark Structures, Inc. in 1973. In 1975 Mrs. Toombs became active as a volunteer locally, and later nationally, with the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of America. From 2002 to 2004 she served as president of LDA's national organization. Her main interests were in the area of public policy and advocacy. In 1987, Mrs. Toombs also formed a coalition of parent and advocacy disability organizations in Missouri and successfully pursued a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to start the Missouri Parent Training and Information Center (MPACT) for the benefit of parents of children with learning disabilities and/or other forms of disabilities. She served as executive director of MPACT until 1995. In the last eleven years of her life, Mrs. Toombs spent half of each with family and close friends in her second home she so loved in southern France. Known as Yara to her grandchildren, and a kind, genuine friend to all who knew her, Mrs. Toombs shall remain in the hearts of all those fortunate enough to have known her. A memorial service shall be held in honor of Mrs. Toombs at 1:30 Thursday, August 26, 2010 at Christ Episcopal Church, 601 East Walnut Street, Springfield, MO, with the Reverend Kenneth L. Chumbley officiating, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Mrs. Toombs ashes shall be inurned in Christ Episcopal's Columbarium with those of her husband and children. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated by the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) 4156 Library Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234, or the Community Foundation of the Ozarks 425 E. Trafficway, Springfield, MO 65806.