Wednesday, December 28, 2016


Mary Frances Miller Myers, Class of 1951, loved her days at Monongah High. And the Monongah High Alumni Reunions that followed over the decades. I had a delightful reunion with Mary Frances and Bill at the 2005 and 2010 Monongah High Alumni Reunions.

Even while she was nearing the end of her life in Canfield, Ohio, she instructed her daughter, Karen Myers Naffah, to pass along information about her health to me so that I could put it on this Monongah High Alumni blog, which I did.
After providing a detailed report on the health problems of Mary Frances and husband Bill Myers, Karen wrote: “She asked me to share our saga with you and ask for prayers for her and my father.”

Now that Mary Frances has passed away, I am carrying out her final wish: To share her memorabilia of Monongah High with Lions no matter where they live in the world.
 
Karen mailed me Mary Francis’ considerable memorabilia, which included the 1949, 1950 and 1951 Black Diamond yearbooks, programs and scripts for the senior and junior high plays that had Mary Frances in the cast and autographs and graduation cards from her fellow Class of 1951 classmates.

The montage above is just a sample of Mary Francis’ memorabilia. To see the full package, click on https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNf5po_Fxk_LE_cxQ26XWPevnobSCFi-KQGIM0gMk2tgJn1vQN5fn7wCXrtth6a9g?key=Z0ppeEZLdmtsdjZHYWJvYlpRRGhCeGduUFl4Ny13 Some photos have captions under them. Click on the balloon in the bottom far right corner and you’ll see the caption. Unfortunately, Google changed the way captions are added. It’s more cumbersome for you. But blame Google, not me. Picasa kept it simpler.
Shinnston native Mary Frances met Bill in Akron, Ohio, where she was a secretary at General Tire and Rubber. They married in 1953, long before I began at the Akron Beacon Journal in 1969 after working in the sports departments of the Dayton, Ohio Daily News and St. Petersburg, Florida Times. Mary Frances and Bill moved to Canfield in 1972, and lived there till her demise.

The children of Mary Frances and Bill Myers are Youngstown State graduate Karen, who lives a block away from Mary Frances’ final home; Bill Myers, whose careers included the Dayton, Ohio police department and the FBI; and David Myers, who lives in Sarasota and watches homes for snowbirds while they are up north in warmer weather.

Mary Francis’ brother is Cleve Miller of Leesburg, Florida, which is about 12 miles from The Villages where Paula and I spend our winters in Paula’s home. She was “Nana” to four grandchildren, Amanda and Matthew Myers of Dayton, Mallory Naffah Padurean of Canfield and Morgan Myers of Sarasota.

Mary Francis was predeceased by her parents; grandparents; and her sister, Martha Frye.

If you want to share your memories of Mary Frances, email me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and CC the email to Karen at kmnaffah@aol.com

In case you missed it, here is Mary Frances’ obituary as it appeared after her passing in March 2016:

Obituary for Mary Frances Myers


CANFIELD – A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, officiated by Pastor Don Christensen for Mrs. Mary Frances Myers, 82, who died Saturday morning with her loving family by her side after a brief illness.

She was born Oct. 9, 1933, in Shinnston, W.Va., a daughter of Robert and Ella Mae (Everson) Miller. After the death of her mother at a young age, Mary and her siblings were raised by their grandparents, Cleve and Minnie Everson.

She was a 1951 graduate of Monongah High School in West Virginia and was active in the alumni association.

Mary moved to Akron and went to work for General Tire and Rubber Co. as a secretary. She met the love of her life, William M. Myers, whom she married Oct. 31, 1953. They moved to Canfield in 1972 and became active members of the community and the Canfield United Methodist Church.

She was a past member of the Sleepy Hollow Garden Club and the Canfield Ladies Bridge Club. Mary enjoyed traveling, spending time with her family, friends and neighbors, but her greatest joys were her husband, children and grandchildren. She loved supporting her children and grandchildren’s activities, and was always their biggest fan.

Mary leaves her husband, William; two sons, William (Debra) Myers Jr. of Dayton and David Myers of Sarasota, Fla.; her daughter, Karen (Michal) Naffah of Canfield; her brother, Cleve (Gloria) Miller of Leesburg, Fla.; and four grandchildren, who were the apples of her eye, Amanda and Matthew Myers of Dayton, Mallory Naffah (Jeffrey) Padurean of Canfield and Morgan Myers of Sarasota.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; and her sister, Martha Frye.

The Myers family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley, Ed and Diane Reese and the staff at Briarfield Manor for the kind, loving and compassionate care that was given to Mary during these last few weeks.

Friends may call on Tuesday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to the Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514.

Please visit www.higgins-reardon.com  to view this obituary and send condolences.

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