Jaimie Feltz Riley, 50, passes

This is a tough article to write, because the Feltz and Olesky families have been intertwined for three-quarters of a century.

Plus, the Feltz family rivals the Kennedy family in tragedies.

The latest is the passing of Jaimie Jo Feltz Riley, only 50, daughter of Betty Lynn Wilson Feltz, Class of 1954, and the late, great Monongah High 1952 and 1955 state championship football coach Jim Feltz and brother of the 1973 MHS state champ quarterback Jay Feltz, also named state Amateur of the Year.

Linda Long Riley posted this on her Facebook page:

“Thank you for the continuous prayers and the outpouring of love. It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that our beloved Jamie has passed, August 14th, 2014 at around 11 p.m.”

Jaimie battled multiple scleroris for decades. 

She has two sons from her marriages. The youngest, Jayce Riley, at home, and Andrew Sestito of Fairmont.

Jaimie and Jay’s brother, Jon Pat Feltz, taught math at Monongah Middle School for decades. He shares a home with their mother, Betty, who grew up as the daughter of a banker and a Monongah High majorette that married the football coach shortly after her graduation.

Jason Patrick Feltz, 30, the Eastside quarterback who played in South Carolina’s annual North-South high school all-star game with former University of South Carolina punter Jay as his coach, passed away in Sapphire, South Carolina.

Jody Elizabeth Feltz, daughter of Coach Jay and his wife, Beth, and Jim & Betty’s granddaughter, died in 2010 at age 25 of brain cancer. She was an Olympics torch bearer through South Carolina in 2001 and Hillcrest High Homecoming queen in 2002. She was diagnosed at age 17.

There was a Feltz responsible for the first (1952, Coach Jim) and last (1973, QB Jay) of the five Monongah High state football titles. 

The late Coach Earl Keener, who came to MHS with Jim Feltz in 1949 to start the dynasty, after Jim became principal at Fairmont West was the head coach for the 1968 title with Nick Saban at quarterback and Kerry Marbury in the backfield and the 1969 title without Brother but with Marbury back to befuddle opponents for another season.

Continuing the family athletic legacy, Jayce Riley, Jaimie’s son, was on the Fairmont West team that competed in the state baseball tournament.

The Feltz and Olesky families have helped each other for seven decades.

My mother, Lena Futten Olesky, helped Betty get started as a teenage wife when Betty and Jim bought the green Domico house next to Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 3 doors down from the Oleskys on Church Street. 

When Mom died, Betty checked in regularly on my father, John W. Olesky, Sr., and notified my sister, Jackie, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, if anything seemed awry.

Jackie and her late husband, Dave Straight, would babysit Jay while Betty and Jim went out for the evening.

Jayce Riley is best friends with Adam Morris, Jackie and Dave’s grandson whose mom is Belinda Straight Morris, Jackie and Dave’s daughter.

Jaimie’s obituary:

o   Jamie Jo Riley L

October 16, 1963 - August 14, 2014

Jamie Jo Feltz Riley, 50, of Fairmont passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Thursday, August 14, 2014 following an extended illness.

She was born October 16, 1963 in Fairmont, daughter of Betty Wilson Feltz of Fairmont and the late James C. Feltz.

Jamie was a lifelong member of the Monongah Baptist Church and a graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, class of 1980. She worked for the Marion County Rescue Squad, Mon General Hospital and UPS. She was an avid baseball fan, enjoyed watching baseball, softball, and Little League baseball. Jamie was also a Florida State football fan, an animal lover, enjoyed cooking, Facebook and spending time with her family and friends.

In addition to her mother, Jamie is survived by her husband Jason, whom she married November 17, 1995; her son, Jayce Riley; and her cat, Baby Girl, at home. She is also survived by a son, Andrew Sestito of Fairmont; two brothers, Jon Feltz of Fairmont, Jay Feltz and his wife Beth of Florida; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Linda Riley of Worthington; a brother-in-law, Michael Riley and his wife Melissa of Clarksburg; a sister-in-law, Rhonda Messenger, and her fiancé Robert Marshall of Ohio; two nieces, Kaylyn and Jordan Messenger; and a nephew, Kadan Messenger; as well as several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She was preceded in death, in addition to her father, by a niece, Jody Feltz; a nephew, Jason Feltz; her paternal grandparents, Dominic and Eva Feltz; maternal grandparents, Fay and Dorothy Wilson.

Jamie chose cremation as her final disposition, which will be arranged by Domico Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday August 17, 2014 at the Monongah Baptist Church at 256 Lyndon Ave. in Monongah with Pastor David Huckins officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Monongah Baptist Church. 

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.domicofh.com .