Eva Agnes Earl

Toni V. Earl, 61, one of the founders and an official of what is now the Nez Perce County Historical Society and the Luna House Museum, died Tuesday night at Holy Family Hospital at Spokane, where she had been undergoing treatment for cancer. She was ill two months. Mrs. Earl, a native of Idaho County, was involved in the study and teaching of history for more than 30 years. Her interests led her into the study of archeology, fine arts, and arts administration. She was best known for her direction of the country historical society and the museum. When the society was founded in 1961 as an outgrowth of Lewiston's centennial celebration, she was one of the founding members. She later became curator of the museum, a position she held until January 1978. Mrs. Earl was instrumental in building the initial collection. After resigning from the museum, she founded TeWats, a Nez Perce Indian cultural project at Lapwai funded by the Idaho Commission of the Arts. She later was employed by the Idaho State Historical Society in a historical site survey in Nez Perce, Clearwater, Latah and Lewis Counties. Before her final illness, she was a partner in the Stepping Stone Nursery at Clarkston. Mrs. Earl was born Oct. 8, 1921, at Grangeville to Joseph and Lora B. Vilas. She moved to Portland as a young woman and worked in a shipyard until entering the services during World War II. She returned to Elk City in 1948. After the death of her first husband, Benjamin F. King, she married Elmer Earl Dec. 20, 1949, at Vancouver, Wash. She and her husband had two ranch homes on the Snake River south of Lewiston, one at the mouth of Captain John Creek and the other at Buffalo Eddy. They also maintained a home at Asotin to avoid traveling long distances. During her long association with the society and museum, Mrs. Earl was also a board member of the Lewiston-Clarkston Humane Society and director of the Lewiston Bicentennial Commission in 1976. She was an honorary member of the Nez Perce Tribe and collected Indian art and artifacts as a hobby. For a time, she moderated a television program on history. She was also an artist. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Earl is survived by a daughter, Valerie Earl, who lives on the Buffalo Eddy Ranch, a son, Phillip King of Pocatello; a brother, Joseph Vilas of North Carolina; and a sister, Ramona, whose last name and address are not known. Lewiston Tribune January 20, 1983, pg. 15 transcribed by Kerry Agnes Vilas King in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Name: Agnes Vilas King [Toni Vilas Earl] [Toni Earl] [Agnes Vilas Vilas] Gender: Female Race: White Birth Date: 8 Oct 1921 Birth Place: Grangeville, Idaho Death Date: Jan 1983 Father: Joseph H Vilas Mother: Lora Castle SSN: 519124655 Signature on SSN Card: Toni King Relationship of Signature: Signature name differs from NH’s name. Notes: Nov 1939: Name listed as AGNES VILAS KING; Jan 1962: Name listed as TONI VILAS EARL; 30 Dec 1987: Name listed as TONI EARL Eva A Earl in the Washington, Death Index, 1940-2014 Name: Eva A Earl Gender: Female Age: 61 Birth Year: abt 1922 Death Date: 18 Jan 1983 Death Place: Spokane, Washington, USA Social Security Number: 519-12-4655 Certificate Number: 003306