Michael Hines, Class of 1970, passed away. Michael lived in Detroit nearly all his adult life.

His widow is Cheryl Brown Hines. They were married for 32 years.

Their children are German Hines, LaTiffany Thomas and Denise Brown, all of Detroit.

His parents were the late Howard and Lula Mae Hines, who lived in Carolina.

Mike’s siblings are Howard Hines, Jr. of Detroit, Randy Hines of Fairmont, Jo-Ann Brown, Class of 1968, of Fairmont, Jacqueline Mordecai, Class of 1973,  of Fairmont, Sharon Stringer, Class of 1972, of Spring Church, Pennsylvania and Lois Washington, Class of 1975, of Savannah, Georgia.

Mike was predeceased by sisters Minnie Beatrice Hines English, Class of 1965, Lillian “Peggy” Hines Howard and Karen Yvonne Hines Dooley, Class of 1976.

Sharon retired from Western Governors University, where she was a student mentor. She also was a Utah Safe Kids director at the Utah Department of Health, a former Fairmont General Hospital lab technician who lives in Shady Plain, Pennsylvania with husband Mark Stringer. After her graduation from Monongah High she became a Fairmont State student and studied community health promotion at WVU.

Mike’s obituary:

Michael (Mike) Hines of Detroit, Michigan passed away March 27, 2020. The son of the late Howard and Lula Mae Hines was born on June 21, 1952 in Fairmont, WV and spent his adult life in Detroit, MI where he met and married Cheryl Brown.

Mike worked and retired from Chrysler Motor company at the age of 48. He has enjoyed his retirement passing time by photographing special events and caring for his flower gardens.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 32 years Cheryl Brown, son, Germar Hines of Detroit, Michigan and daughters LaTiffany Thomas (William) and Denise Brown both of Detroit, Michigan; two brothers Howard (Delores) Hines, Jr. of Detroit, MI and Randy (Misty) Hines of Fairmont, WV; four sisters Jo-Ann (Joe) Brown, Jacqueline (Walter) Mordecai of Fairmont, WV, Sharon (Mark) Stringer of Spring Church, PA and Lois Washington of Savannah, GA.; three brothers-in law Anthony (Lynn) Brown, Antwan (Joyce) Brown, and Ernest Brown.

He also leaves three grandsons Deontae and William II and Germar, Jr.; two granddaughters Amira and Gabrielle Brown and great granddaughter SaRiah; close family friends which he viewed as sister and brother, Bishop William (Alice) Washington and Lila Hughley. three uncles Chester Hines, of Charlotte, NC, Milton and John Motley of Cleveland, Ohio; six aunts, Clara Coleman of Detroit, MI, Wilma Reeves of Greenville, SC, Christine Jackson of Bessemer, AL, Juanita Arnold of Fairmont, WV, Nellie Hines of Carolina, WV, Norma Jean Thompson of Fairmont, WV and Rachel Motley of Henderson, TN a host of cousins and special friends Michael Hester of Detroit, MI and Eddie King of Morgantown, WV.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by, three sisters and brothers-in-law Minnie Bea and Eugene English, Sr. and Karen Yvonne and Mark Dooley and Lillian (Peggy) and R.C. Howard.

Patty Meredith Wills, Class of 1950, has been in a Jacksonville, Florida assisted living facility since July.

She reports that “my health is fine.”

Her brother, Bill Meredith, Class of 1957, who lives in Sarasota, Florida, agrees. “She is living in a very nice assisted living facility and is very happy there. She is considerably better living there than she was living alone in Fairmont” after Patty’s husband, Fairmont West graduate and football star Don Wills, passed away.

Patty and Don had two homes, on Crescent Beach just south of St. Augustine Beach, Florida and Fairmont. They sold the Crescent Beach residence.

Patty and Don’s son, Barry, lives two miles from the facility.

Their other sons are John Wills, who lives in Maryland and retired from the Secret Service, and Don Wills, Jr. , who works on a hospital computer in Iowa.

Fairmont State graduate Barry was assistant principal for Flagler County public schools and a pianist at the First Baptist Church of Palm Coast.

Bill, Patty's brother, phones her often to let each other know how things are going.

Patty was more than a pretty face at Monongah High. She was one of the smartest students in the Class of 1950.

Her constant companion at Monongah High was Leona Duckles Davis Schooley, Class of 1953, lives in Cleveland. I ran into Duckles at the 2019 Monongah High Alumni dinner/dance reunion.

If you want to phone Patty and chat about Monongah High days, her number is (904) 806-5791.

Donna Davis home after eye surgery

Monongah High Alumni Association treasurer Donna Davis, Class of 1961, is home recuperating from her cornea transplant surgery Thursday, March 19.

It’s going to be a long haul.



Her cataract surgery on her other eye “went great” in September.

But the drops that doctors put in this eye November 12 to treat the eye was too strong and created a vision problem that required the cornea transplant. Donna wasn't the only one who got the too-strong drops.

Donna has another problem. She can’t find anyone in the Class of 1960, one of the two honor classes, to handle the task of rounding up 1960 graduates. “So many of them are sick,” Donna said. If you’re Class of 1960, call Donna at (304) 534-5636 to volunteer to corral your 1960 classmates.

Class of 1970 is the other honor class.

Donna has been handling MHS Banquet reservations for as long as I can remember. It’s an arduous task. She deserves the thanks of every Lion in America for it.

Donna is married to Bill Davis, Class of 1958. They live in Monongah. Her sister, Linda Pruitte, lives in Fairmont with husband Richard Pruitte. Their brother, Frederick R. Moorehead, was Class of 1964. His widow is Linda Savereno Moorehead, Class of 1968, who lives in Carolina.

Donna’s parents were Walter Colbert, killed in 1944 while serving in the military, and Norma Lee Croaston Moorehead, who passed away in 2017.

If you want to send Donna a get-well card, her address is:

Donna Davis

858 Park Avenue

Monongah, WV 26554-1143

Or you could give her a cheer-up call at (304) 534-5636.

Maybe the Stepping Stone band, who perform at the Monongah High Alumni dinner-dance reunion, could serenade her?

Mike Jurasko, Class of 1957, passed away February 17 in Fairmont.

His widow is Elda Colleen Hall Jurasko.

 

Survivors include his sister Mary Ann Jurasko Hunt, Class of 1965, who lives in Washington.

Mike once was an auto damage appraiser for State Farm Insurance. He also is a Fairmont State graduate. He was with Colleen at the 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Monongah High Alumni Reunions.

Mike played basketball and football at Monongah High and was class president.

Juraskos have always been front and center when it comes to serving our country in the military.

Here’s a 2019 Facebook post from Brittany Littrell:

I wanted to thank all those who have served and are still serving our country. I am especially thankful for my family members who have served.

Thank you Cheri Littrell, Rick Littrell, Mike Jurasko, Mike Jurasko, Frank Cosner, Jennifer Cane and Steve Jurasko. Also, thank you Christopher Littrell and Matt Jurasko who are currently serving.

Your sacrifices will never be forgotten! I hope you all have a happy Veterans Day.

There’s a Francine Cameon Jurasko, Class of 1978. I’m not sure how she is connected to the other Juraskos, but she probably is a granddaughter.

Mike’s obituary:

Michael David Jurasko, 80, of Fairmont, passed away at his residence on February 17, 2020. He was born May 14, 1939 in Fairmont a son of the late Michael Joseph and Josephine Smolanovich Jurasko.

He is survived by his wife Elda Colleen Hall Jurasko.

Mr. Jurasko was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fairmont. He was a 1957 graduate of Monongah High School and a later graduate of Fairmont State College. He was a veteran with the United States Air Force.

Mike retired from State Farm Insurance company where he served as an estimator in the local area. He was a member of the Fairmont Flyers RC Club, the Over the Hill Cruisers Antique Car Club. He enjoyed attending car shows with his 57 Chevrolet and was well known for his homemade muffins and candles.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his five children: Carolyn and her husband Frank Cosner of Fairmont, Michael Edward Jurasko and his companion Angie Starcher of Florida, Cheri and her husband Rick Littrell of Kentucky, Steve and his wife Michelle Jurasko of Fairmont and Jennifer Cane of Fairmont; his sister Mary Ann Hunt of Washington, his eleven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank his caregivers with whom Mike loved having a special relationship. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 t. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-9959. Friends and family may call the Ford Funeral Home, R.C. Jones Chapel, 1410 Country Club Road, Fairmont, WV on Friday, February 21, 2020 from 2PM until 8PM. A private committal service will take place at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Fairmont. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com .

Bob Cottrill rehabbing at home finally

Bob Cottrill, Class of 1951, has been rehabbing at home for a month after spending two months in the Life Care Center in Palm Bay, Florida, which is 5 miles from Bob’s home in Melbourne.

Bob Cottrill

Bob broke his thigh bone while dancing. Honest! He was jitterbugging. His shoes didn’t slide. His body tried to slide but couldn't.

Bob has a therapist coming to his home, where he gets around with the assistance of a cane. He uses a walker when he goes to a restaurant for dining with his wife, Thelma. And, when his therapist is there, does some walking with the cane on the sidewalk.

Thelma, her daughter and her daughter’s husband helped set up the Cottrills’ Melbourne home before Bob left the rehab facility.

Total recovery from a thigh bone fracture can take up to six months so Bob is halfway there.

Bob has heard from Duane Harbert and Arlene Marteney Edgell, both also Class of 1951, since his mishap. And me, of course.

Arlene is married to Okla Edgell, Class of 1944, who played football for Monongah High and was a POW in Germany during World War II.

Duane lives in Marlinton, New Jersey. Duane’s mother, Goldie, taught at Worthington Grade School. Duane’s father, Frank Harbert, was principal of Thoburn Elementary in Monongah. Duane’s brother, John Harbert, Class of 1955, and John's wife, Karen Colvin Harbert, also class of 1955, are deceased.

Bob graduated from Fairmont State in three years, began a teaching career in biology and general science and coaching at Ohio's Wapakoneta High School – astronaut Neil Armstrong’s hometown.

He advanced to helping the State of Ohio Board of Education with school financing and implementation of fair busing, from his office in Parma. Then in 1982-88 he was director of business administration handling such things as bus routing while assistant superintendent of Brunswick, Ohio schools. He was school principal in Northfield, Ohio near Akron.

Mildred “Hazel” Stafford Frost, Class of 1960, passed away Wednesday, February 5 in her Morgantown home.

Jim McDaniel, also Class of 1960, who lives in Behobothbeach, Delaware, tipped me off with the belated news.

I guess she went by Hazel because her mother also was named Mildred – Mildred Gaye Stone Stafford. Some of my Monongah friends and me didn’t go by our birth names as children because our father had the same name: I was John Jr. or Junebug because my dad was John W. Olesky, Sr. and Lawrence Godby was Sonny Godby because his dad beat him to the Lawrence and was married to Regina Godby and had a daughter named Jackie Godby.

 

Although Hazel was born in Hutchinson she was one of many Carolina girls who attended Monongah High because that's where she was being reared during her Lions days.

 

1989 North Marion grad Jeffrey Lee Frost, who did his pre-med at Auburn University in Alabama, is her son.

Sandra Sue Ashcraft, Class of 1964, is her sister.

She was predeceased by sister Marion Faye Stafford Pirkheim, Class of 1948.

Hazel's obituary:

Mildred “Hazel” Stafford Frost, 78, of Morgantown, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, at her residence. She was born in Hutchinson, WV on February 2, 1942, a daughter of the late Charles Arthur Stafford and Mildred Gaye Stone Stafford.

 

Hazel is survived by her son, Jeffrey Lee Frost and his wife Christine; four grandchildren, Andrew Gage Frost, Ella Renee Frost, Max Lee Frost and Mia Elyse Frost; a great-grandchild, Hudson George-Allen Frost; and a sister, Sandra Sue Ashcraft.

 

In addition to her parents, Hazel was preceded in death by four infant siblings; two brothers, Marvin Ernest Stafford and Charles Arthur Stafford, Jr.; and three sisters, Virginia Stafford, Marion Faye Pirkheim, and Genevieve Lee McPherson.

 

Hazel was a 1960 graduate of Monongah High School and worked at Westinghouse and as a telephone operator for Verizon. She attended Christ Church of Morgantown and taught Bible Study at Carolina Methodist Church. Hazel enjoyed reading her Bible and cooking. She would bake cookies at Christmastime for shut-ins in Carolina.

 

The family requests memorial contributions be made in Hazel’s memory to Christ Church of Morgantown, 437 Drummond St., Morgantown, WV 26505. The family will receive friends at Ford Funeral Home, R.C. Jones Chapel, 1410 Country Club Road, Fairmont, WV 26554, on Monday, February 10, 2020, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Monday, February 10, 2020, at 12 noon. A committal service will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Moatsville, WV. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com .

Jerry Loss funeral arrangements




j

Calling hours for Jerry Class, Class of 1956, will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at the Martens Funeral Home chapel at 1175 North Rocky River Drive in Cleveland. There's more than one Martens chapel in Cleveland.

Jerry’s funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 12 in St. Brendan Catholic Church, 4242 Brendan Lane, North Olmsted, Ohio.

Jerry passed away Friday, March 6.

His widow is Elaine Ehrbar Loss, who lives in North Olmsted.

Their children are Diane Brookins and Sharon Spiewacker.

Jerry and his late brother, Robert Loss, spent their childhood in Mill Fall with their parents, Frank Loss and Gezala Futten Loss. Jerry was my cousin because Gezala and my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, were sisters.

If you want to send a card of note, Elaine’s address is:

Elaine Loss

23560 Sharon Drive

North Olmsted, OH 44070

In case you get lost trying to reach Martens or St. Brendan, the phone numbers are:

(440) 777-6474 for St. Brendan Catholic Church.

(216) 941-1772 for Martens Funeral Home.

Class of 1950? Join me at 2020 MHS Alumni Banquet

Reservations already have been made for the 2020 Monongah High Alumni Banquet May 23 for:

Leatrice Yokay Greaser, Class of 1950

Rose Commodore Cain, Class of 1950

John Olesky, Class of 1950

Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955

Other strong possibilities, I would think, because they live in Fairmont, where the Banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23 in the Knights of ColumbusHall, 1529 Mary Lou Retton Drive:

Tony Eates, Class of 1950

Donald Halpenny, Class of 1950

Barbara Glover Rombola, Class of 1950

Mary Ann Puffenbarger Moore, who Class of 1950

Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950

At least 18 of the 45 Class of 1950 graduates, as far as I know, still are alive even though we are 87 years old, give or take a year. The others are:

Anna Currence Sutton, who lives in Conyers, Georgia.

Frank Franze, who lives in Slidell, Louisiana.

Bernice Grandstaff Maranville, who lives in North Carolina.

Lucille Herron Anderson, who lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

Bob Kasper, who lives in South Lyon, Michigan.

Pat Kiehl Williams, who lives in Edgewood, New Mexico.

Reva McDougal Ash, who lives in Marietta, Ohio.

Arnold Morgan, who lives in Palatka, Florida.

Katherine Toothman Crim, who lives in Farwell, Michigan.

Pat Urban Utz, who lives in Springfield, Virginia.

If you are any of the Class of 1950 graduates or communicate with them in recent years, ask them to call John Olesky at (330) 388-4466 or email me at jo4wvu.blogspot.com to let me know if they plan to attend or, if not, to have a chat so I can get updated information on their whereabouts and medical and travel status.

Or they can just print the Banquet Reservation form with this article and send it with their check for $30 per person to:

Monongah High Alumni Banquet
c/o Donna Davis
858 Park Avenue
Monongah, WV 26554-1143
 

 

Thank you.

John Olesky, Class of 1950

Monongah Water Plant chief operator and assistant Monongah Fire Department chief Bill McCombs, Class of 1969, is retiring. He’s retired before but then came back to train his water plant replacement, who bailed out after a few months. Again and again. So Bill stayed. Till now.

The town gave him a plaque. And a heartfelt “thank you, Bill McCombs!!”

Bill’s wife is Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs, a Fairmont East graduate deeply involved in promoting the annual Monongahfest Festival. They’ve been married 42 years. She moved to Monongah in her 20s, around the time she married Bill. Patty has been Town Recorder for 16 years. Bill has served on Monongah’s Town Council, off and on, for more than 20 years. And put in 23 years making sure Monongah’s water was safe to drink.

“When you come (to Monongah), you feel like no one is a stranger in this town because everyone always treats you as if they’ve known you forever,” Patty said.

Bill and Patty owned for five years the Dairy Kone built and operated by Amelia Shenasky Zentz and her late husband Bruce Zentz.

 

In 2014 Bill got the Perkins Boynton Award given out to West Virginia water operators. Only two are handed out each year.

Monongah fire chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, is Bill McCombs’ brother. Harless is married to Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children's book author Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977. Their brother, Kevin McCombs, is married to Vicky McCombs.

Bill McCombs won the Monongah mayoral race several years ago when his name was drawn from a hat to break a tie with incumbent Don Harris. But after the state ruled that he couldn’t be both mayor and town water director, Bill resigned as mayor. 

 

Bill’s wife, Patty, broke the tie that put Greg Vandetta into the mayor’s chair. Vandetta Construction owner Greg is married to Monongahfest president Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973.

JohnBoy Palmer succeeded Greg as Monongah’s mayor in the last election.

Now that Bill has retired, again, Patty says:

“He is just going to enjoy fishing and camping at Big Bear Lake,” their home away from home when they weren’t making Monongah a better place to live.

So, let’s hang up the sign: Gone Fishing!

Forever. Maybe. Particularly, April 1 to October 31, when Big Bear Lake Family Campgrounds in Bruceton Mills is wide open for outdoor activists.

Jerry Loss passes away

Jerry Loss, Class of 1956, passed away Friday, March 6 at his North Olmsted, Ohio home. He had
 esophageal cancer.

It was no surprise. A few days ago Jerry’s wife, Elaine, posted:

“This is very hard for me but I must tell you that Jerry's body is shutting down. The doctor says it will only be a couple of days and he will be at peace.  It has been a rough time for both of us.  

“He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer last March and then had radiation. Went all summer being happy and himself.  He did go through 2 sessions of chemo.

"A few weeks ago we took him to the local hospital where he stayed in ICU for 6 days.  He was released to come home to a hospital bed last Saturday and has been declining slowly ever since. 

“This is so painful to watch.”

Indeed, Elaine.

 

When my wife for 48 years, Monnie Elizabeth Turkette Olesky, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer we spent her final 3 months at the home of our daughter, LaQuita, in Aurora, Ohio. We talked about many things, including Monnie’s final arrangements. But when the end came in 2004, it still was hard, very hard.

I was a basket case for seven months until Paula came back into my life. And for 15 years so far.

Jerry and Elaine have two daughters. Jerry’s brother, Robert Loss, passed away. The brother spent their childhood on the 100-acre Mill Fall farm of their parents, Frank and Gezala Futten Loss.

Jerry’s mother was born in Pellizzano, Italy in 1909 as Gisella Assunta Futten. When she came to Ellis Island and America in 1920 on the Queen of Italy ship that departed from Genoa she became Gezala.

With Gezala was her mother, Maria Fedrigoni Futten (my Nona . . . grandmother), and my mother, Guerinna Guilia Futten, Gezala’s sister, who became Lena Futten Olesky when she married my father, John W. Olesky, Sr.; and Gezala and Lena’s younger brother, Silvio Eugenio Futten, who became Si Futten, the long-time barber on Fairmont Avenue.

 

Their father, Severino de Pellizzano Futten, who left for America in 1917 to avoid World War I, sent for his family three years later.

Between them, cousins Jerry and John – who lives in Tallmadge, Ohio -- have had knee replacements, hip replacements, gall bladder removal and Pacemaker insertions into their bodies.

Jerome Lee Loss was a retired East Ohio State employee. His widow is Elaine Ehrbar Loss.

Their children are Diane Brookins and Sharon Spiewacker. They have two grandchildren.

Martens Funeral Home, 9811 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio will handle the arrangements, which have not been finalized.

If you want to send a card or note, Elaine's address is:

Elaine Loss

23560 Sharon Drive

North Olmsted, OH 44070

Her home phone is (440) 777-0183.

New VP, secretary for Monongah Christmas lights committee

Susan Sanders (left), Kim Kormaraus

Carolyn Tice has replaced Michelle “Shelly” Yankie as vice president of the Friends of Monongah Christmas Lights Committee or, as I like to call them, The Charge of the Lights Brigade (Tennyson fans know the analogy).

2002 North Marion grad Shelly had been swamped taking care of her mother, Mary Myers Yankie, who passed away in February, and her grandchildren and asked to be relieved of that heartwarming task.

Caroline Tice

Carolyn moved to Monongah a few years ago with husband Chuck Tice. They bought the McCombs house on Maní Avenue. They picked the best decorated house for Monongah at Christmas time.

Secretary Jane Bailey was replaced on the Lights committee by Kim Kormaraus, who has a masters degree in communication and used her teaching degree to sub in Monongah schools.

“She has some wonderful money-making ideas,” said Lights founder, inspiration and angel of Thomas Street Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971.

Kim is a graduate of East Fairmont High School, Fairmont State and Marshall. She is in a 14-year relationship with a significant other.

 

Her children are grown, Amy Herron from Monongah and Josh Korcsmaros from Beckley. She has three grandchildren, including one who is a student at Monongah Elementary. 

 

Kim is a retired college professor and former division chair at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

She took students to Montreal for annual speech and debate tournament trips. She was the debate coach at Fairmont State, director of forensics at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia and at WVU-Parkersburg.

Her loves quilting and woodworking. She is gearing up for spring craft show season.

 

Kim, like me, was friends with John Veasey, the late Fairmont Times editor and columnist. John was my primary contact when I wanted information about Monongah High alumni or Monongah to appear in the Fairmont Times. I tried unsuccessfully to hire John when I was #2 in command of the sports department at the Dayton Daily News in Ohio but he decided to stay in Fairmont, which he loved.

 

Kim met Susan Sanders when she participated in the Monongahfest craft show which lead to the Monongah Christmas lights association craft show. 

 

Susan’s leadership has brought 34 Christmas street lights to Monongah, which is an incredible achievement. It just lights up your heart to see them as it did when I visited my Church Street pearl-in-a-seashell light and toured the town’s other lights in December.

Fill out & mail in your MHS Banquet reservation

The Monongah High Alumni Reunion is the longest continuous high school reunion in West Virginia.

The 97^th (!!!!) Monongah High Alumni Banquet will be 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23 in the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1529 Mary Lou Retton Drive, Fairmont.

Your banquet reservations must arrive in the mail by May 28.

Print out this reservation form, fill it out, enclose your check and mail it to:

 

Donna Davis

MHS Alumni Association

858 Park Avenue

Monongah, WV 26554-1143

Do it as soon as possible before you forget about it!

It’s important to keep the Reunion going because we’ll need enough Lions and guests showing up to keep this great event happening.

We owe it to Greta Martin Mike, who started the Alumni Reunion in 1922, to at least keep it alive for 100 years! You will see friends you haven’t mingled with for decades. It’s a memorable experience. I know because it was there last year.

Don’t delay. Send in your reservation form now. I plan to attend and I’m Class of 1950, so this will be our class' 70^th anniversary reunion. If 87-year-olds can be there, then why can’t you?