On Wednesday, May 15, 2019, Tonya Charle passed away peacefully at the age of 83 at Cox South Hospital with her children by her side, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.  Tonya was led to Christ by her granddaughter Courtney and we have comfort knowing that God reserved a special seat for her in Heaven.

Tonya was born on August 6, 1935 to John David and Thelma Armstrong in Springfield, MO. She received her bachelor's degree at SMSU and met her husband, Jerry Harris during her college years.   From this union came three children Jay, Scott, and April. Her three children were her pride and joy.  Tonya went on to work for Frisco, later becoming BNSF, where she worked in various clerical capacities before her retirement.

Tonya enjoyed line dancing with her friends, fishing, knitting, writing, cross word puzzles, and an occasional trip to the casino. She was an avid sports fan.  She loved watching tennis, Cardinal baseball, and was a Springfield Cardinal and MSU Bears Basketball season ticket holder.  She especially enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren play sports.  She was very quick witted and will be remembered by many for her sense of humor.

She is survived by her son Jay Harris and wife Laurie, son Scott Harris and wife Barbara, daughter April Wheeler and husband Mike, sister Sandra Holaday and husband Ray, brother Joe Armstrong and wife Kay, grandchildren Courtney Kauffman and husband Billy; Landyn Block and husband Sam; Sydney Harris; Karli Wheeler; Seth Wheeler; three great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She is preceded in death by her father, J.D. Armstrong; mother, Thelma Armstrong; second husband Charles Charle; and grandson, Justin Harris.

Graveside services will be held at White Chapel Memorial Gardens on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at 3:00 pm.  Steve Ward will be officiating.

The family would like to say a special thank you to her nurses, Ashley and Sam. They showed a great deal of empathy and compassion and went above and beyond in caring for Tonya.  We cannot thank you enough.   She truly loved you both.