DeMarys’ Market founder passes away

John June DeMary, Class of 1937, passed away Saturday, August 13.

His sons John, Joe and twins Fred and Leo DeMary operated DeMarys’ Market at 34 Paw Paw Creek, right by the railroad tracks after you drive off U.S. 19 along the West Fork River.

John June DeMary

Fred and John are alive. Joe and Leo are not.

John June was the widow of Helen Louise Martin. Their children are Michael DeMary and John Robert DeMary. Later, John June married Regina Sue Hickman Dulin, who passed away in 2016.

Pete DeMary opened up the market in Rivesville in 1938. Sons John, Joe, Fred and Leo helped run the market till Pete retired and Fred and wife Mary Jane took over. In 1991, they turned it over to Richard DeMary, one of their five children, but continued to help out.

John June’s cousins include Ann DeMary Eates, Class of 1945, married to Joe Eates, also Class of 1945, and living in Monongah at the bottom of the Bridge Street hill.

DeMarys’ Market in Rivesville sometimes get confused with the DeMary Grocery in Monongah, which Tina Ann “Peaches” Aldridge DeMary, Class of 1945, and husband Frank DeMary, Jr., Class of 1947, had at the end of Bridge Street in Monongah before they moved to Rivesville, where John June’s DeMarys’ Market is. Previously, Peaches and Frank owned a grocery store in Pennsylvania.

John June’s obituary:

turned the business over to his sons. Then Fred and his wife Mary Jane DeMary had taken over the family business. Later in 1991, Fred and Mary Jane handed the business down to one of the five children, Richard DeMary. Fred and Mary Jane also still work there and help run the business. Mary Jane runs the carry-out lunch counter making hoagies and sandwiches which have the famous DeMary’s sausage, a secret family recipe. They also have Ham, chicken, and pasta salads, including many other homemade foods. DeMary’s Market is widely known for their meats, which include Ground Chuck, Hot Sausage, Chicken, Delmonico Steaks and Cube Steaks. They also have a wide variety of lunchmeats, and cheeses. During holidays, the store becomes busy as can be when business almost triples. Customers come and call in orders for meat they want to share with their families and friends. Not to mention the unmatchable customer service where they still call you by name. The friendly people at Demary’s Market help their customers in any possible way. From making meats to their specifications to helping them carry groceries out to their vehicle. The Customers always come first, And that has been well appreciated. The store itself has a nice welcoming feeling to it. Much hasn’t changed over all those years. It still has the nice old fashion flair to as if nothing has changed since the doors have opend. DeMary's Market would like to thank the loyal customers that have stuck with them over the years while they have been in business, and they wish to serve them for many more years to come. For without them, they would have not lasted for 73 years.

Obituary of John DeMary

John June DeMary, 96, well known area grocer, passed away from this life on August 13, 2016. He was born in Monongah, WV on November 15, 1919, to the late G. Pete and Nancy Colarusso DeMary.

John graduated from Monongah High School in 1937 where he enjoyed participating in plays and was active in basketball. He attended Fairmont State College until his junior year when he enlisted in the Air Corps the day after Pearl Harbor and served as a Crew Chief airplane mechanic with the 13th Air Force in the Southwest Pacific for four years. John was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with one Bronze Star, the Victory Medal, and the World War II Good Conduct Ribbon. After being discharged in 1946, he and his brothers, Joe, Fred and Leo, operated DeMarys’ Market from where he retired in 1985.

John was marred to Helen Louise Martin who preceded him in death in April, 1990. They were the proud parents of two sons: son Michael Alan and his wife Kathy who have three children, Megan Tennant, Michael DeMary and Anthony DeMary; son John Robert who has two children, Adam and his wife Christy DeMary and their children Jonathan and Lily, and Alison DeMary Ferrell and her husband Bill and their daughter Leah.

John lived happily in the Highlawns area of Rivesville. He was a member of the Rivesville Lions Club and the Paw Paw Fair Association. He enjoyed his community and friends throughout his entire life. At the age of 87, John graduated from Fairmont State University in 2006 with an Associate Degree of Applied Science. John enjoyed attending Fighting Falcon basketball games with his son Robert and grandson Anthony. He was happiest when fishing and gardening with his son Mike or golfing with his son Robert. He had a passion for building Bluebird houses that started in 1980. He was so proud of his accomplishment of building well over 950 houses that were given in love to family and friends all over the United States and several adorn two beautiful golf courses.

On February 14, 1998, John married Regina Sue Hickman Dulin who preceded him in death in April 2016. His family grew to include Sue’s children: daughter Betty and her husband Jack Slike, their son John and his wife Brooke and their sons Mason and Spencer; daughter Susie and her husband Ron Camrud, their son James and his wife Amanda Umber and their daughter Rachel; son John and his wife Betsy Dulin and their sons Jack and Sam; son Ben and his wife Carol Dulin and their daughter Jennifer Dulin, her son Joshua, and their son Thomas and his wife Amanda Dulin and their daughters Hadley and Harper.

Also surviving are his brother Fred and his wife MaryJane DeMary, sister-in-law, Ruth DeMary, special cousins Ann and Joe Eates, much loved cousins, nieces and nephews, one being David DeMary who provided much of the wood needed for John’s birdhouses. He leaves behind special friends Sam Koch, Yvonne Liberto, Joe Cavalier and Dave Keener.

In addition to his parents and Helen and Regina, John was preceded in death by his brothers Joe and wife Lorraine DeMary , and Leo and wife Margaret DeMary.

Memorial donations may be made to the Regenia Sue Dulin DeMary Nursing Scholarship at Fairmont Statue University 1300 Locust Avenue Fairmont, West Virginia 26554.

Family and friends may visit the Ford Funeral Home, DeGarmo Chapel, 207 Second Street, Rivesville, WV on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 from 1PM until 9PM and on Wednesday September 7, 2016 from 10AM until 11AM. A Memorial Service will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 11AM with Deacon David Lester officiating. Interment will follow at the WV National Cemetery in Pruntytown, WV. Full military rites will be held at graveside by the Marion County Veterans Council. Online condolences may be made at www.fordfuneralhomes.com .