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Submitted: 8/18/16 • Approved: 8/21/16 • Last Updated: 8/24/16 • R1152761-G0-S3
October 5, 1924 - November 12, 2011
*Obituary
Rogers Morning News
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
GENTRY — Frank "Lefty" Eugene Tosta, 87, of Gentry, Ark., went to be with the Lord on Nov. 12, 2011, in Highfill, Ark. Born Oct. 5, 1924, in Patterson, Calif., he was the son of John and Mary Lewis Tosta.
Lefty was known and loved by all and loved by all as one of the last of the great cowboys. He loved his family, he loved his horses and he loved life. He lived his first 67 years in the Central California Valley.
In 1991, he left those familiar trails and moved, with his wife, MariAnn, to his new home and ranch in Arkansas. Immediately, Lefty had a new posse of cowboy friends as he continued to rope and rodeo in his new surroundings. Lefty loved having the cowboys spend hours roping at his ranch.
He was a tough, winning calf roper. He was a member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, PRCA, California Cowboy Association, National Old Timers Rodeo Association, and the Senior Pro Rodeo Association. He was a hired hand working with Charlton Heston in the 1958 movie. The Big Country."
In addition to roping and rodeoing, Lefty was a successful cattleman in California and in Arkansas. In California, he had herds on pasture and in the mountains. Often the cattle would get through the fence and he was quick to smile and say, "The feed is always cheaper and greener on the other side of the fence."
He was a rugged cattleman and not easily foiled by difficulty. While on a roundup, a limb slammed back to smack Lefty in the face and broke a few teeth. He continued the round up until the last of the cattle were loaded in the trailer. We also remember the day "Lefty" was loading cattle and a cow head-butted him, pinning him, breaking two ribs, but he still took the cattle to the sales barn.
In 1963, he joined the Operating Engineers Local Union and spent the next 25 years in the heavy construction industry. While in California, many of his construction years were spent as a foreman for George Reed.
Lefty spent his last years on his ranch surrounded by his loving family and friends. His big heart, broad shoulders, beaming smile and contagious laugh will be missed by all.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John Tosta and Joe Tosta; and sisters, Mary Corn and Rosie Case.
Survivors include his wife, MariAnn; sister, Eva Borges of California; sons, Danny Heitman and wife, Belma, of Louisiana, Fritz Tosta and wife, Debbie, of California, Steve Tosta and wife, Korinne, of Arkansas; his daughters, Susie Keckler and Mike of California, Julee Gilbert and husband, Mike, of New York; 16 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Memorial services will he 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at Gentry Cemetery, Gentry, Ark., with Pastor Karl Roten officiating.
To sign the online guest book, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
Contributed on 8/18/16 by wfields55
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Record #: 1152761