While doing research on Monongah High’s McDougal siblings, their spouses, children and grandchildren I stumbled upon one of the most patriotic families in Lions history.

 

With a ton of help from Mareiia Wilmouth McDougal, Class of 1964, and Helen McDougal Mudry, Class of 1965, these are the military service connections I hope I got right:

 

Marieia’s husband Earl Edward McDougal was in the military.

Earl’s sister, Reva McDouglas Ash, had three sons in the military:  John Arlen, Jeremy John and Guy Paul Ash.

Helen’s son, Ronnie Mudry, was in the Navy.

Mareia’s father was an officer in the Army Air Corps for 14 years.

Marieia’s son Greg served in the Air Force for 23 years.

Marieia’s grandson is with the Air Force in Alaska.

Many of Marieia’s family and Earl’s family have served.

So have uncles, aunts, brothers-in-law, cousins.

Marieia’s son-in-law Brian Richmond was in the military.

Marieia’s son-in-law Steve Jackson was in the military.

Haleigh McDougal, daughter of State Police Officer John McDougal and sister of Nicholas McDougal, is attending Marshall and will enter Army as an officer. North Marion grad Angie Criado McDougal is Haleigh's mom.

Haleigh McDougal is a granddaughter of Mickey Satterfield, who was a Salai and a McDougal before marrying Mike Satterfield from East Side. Mickey is a Monongah High graduate.

 

That’s a dozen by name plus maybe that many more after you add in the uncles, aunts, brothers-in-law and cousins.

Old Glory means a LOT to this family.

 

Says Marieia: “We are very patriotic in our families. We are extremely proud.

 

“Our grandaughter Haleigh McDougal (State Police Officer John McDougal’s daughter) is attending Marshall University for two years and then will enter the U.S. Army as an officer. We are so proud.

“My dad was in the Army Air Corps for 14 years as an officer.

“My son has been in the Air Force for 23 years.

“My grandson is serving with the Air Force in Alaska.”

“My hubby (Earl) and many, many of my family and Earl’s family have served. Most of my uncles, my aunts, brothers-in-law and cousins also have served” in the military.

“My sister Reva (McDougal Ash, Class of 1950, who lives in Marietta, Ohio) had three sons in the military.” That would be John Arlen, Jeremy John and Guy Paul Ash.

 

Marieia also passed along these thoughts about some of the military in this incredible family:

We fight all forms of oppression,
Helping victims far and near,
To keep the world from chaos,
To protect what we hold dear.

Mareia’s son in law

BRIAN RICHMOND

 

On Veterans Day we honor
Soldiers who protect our nation.
For their service as our warriors,
They deserve our admiration.

Mareia’s son

GREGORY ALAN SWIGER

 

We’ve seen it all before,
And we could not let it be;
We gave our lives for freedom,
For the world, and for you and me.

Mareia’s son-in-law

STEVE JACKSON

Reva’s children and grandchildren:

 

1-John Arlen: (son)
Jeremy John (daughter)
Sandra Marie, whose son is Johnaton Andrew.

2-Guy Paul
  (son) Keith Arlen
  (daughter) Kelsey Marie.

3-Larry Alan
    (daughter)  Haley Renee
    (son) Luke Alan.

4-Beth Ann Lemley
   (son) Ethan Shawn---
     Ethan's daughters  Lakelynn Grace
     Sophia IleneAnn.
    (son) Evan Shane
    Baby on the way
   (Son) Evan Shane
   Baby on the way

Reva worked at Westinghouse before Johnnie (1955) was born until Paul was born (1960). Before that she lived with her grandma Ferrell and worked at the hospital in Clarksburg as a nurse’s aide.

Reva’s only daughter, Beth Ann, wrote:

“In all my years of growing up my Mom was home every single day when I got home from school except for two days --  the dad that Johnnie had an accident with a chainsaw and the day that she was at the mall buying me bedroom curtains.

 

“Other than that she was home with a hot meal cooking on the stove every day!!! She is a beautiful singer … with a one-of-a-kind voice. She loves church and still sings in the choir.”

 

Reva was a waitress in Morgantown when I attended West Virginia University School of Journalism.

Ronnie Mudry is married to Helen McDougal Mudry, Class of 1965. Their son served in the Navy.  Helen and Ron live in her parents’ home on Swisher Hill.  

 

Helen's brother Jim McDougal, Class of 1961, lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina. So does another brother, Earl Edward McDougal, who worked at BorgWarner.

Mareia Wilmouth McDougal, Class of 1964, spent her first three years at Shinnston High before transferring to Monongah High. Earl, Class of 1963, was at MHS all four years. That’s where they met.
Earl Edward and Mareia have a blended family of seven children that led to 28 grandchildren and great-grandchildren -- 10 grandsons, 10 granddaughters, 4 great-grandsons and 4 great-granddaughters.

That's what I call keeping the score even with every generation. .  

Mareia was born in Ohio. Earl was a coal miner till the mine shut down and they moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina, their home for more than 30 years. Both are retired from BorgWarner, where Earl sometimes is contracted for more BW work.  Mareia has been a florist for 45 years, including a department manager at Wal-Mart, where she retired at 62 after 17 years there.

 

Mareia writes:

“We are a loving, blended family. Parents of 7 children. From oldest to youngest: Michele & hubby Brian Richardson, parents to two boys; Greg, parent to 2 boys 1 girl; Cami and Jody, parents to two boys and one girl and one granddaughter; Lori Ann and Steve Jackson, parents to 4 girls and 1 boy and three grandchildren, two girls and one boy; John, parent to one boy and one girl; Damian and Marci, parents to 1 boy and 1 girl; Shasha and pastor Phillip Youngblood, parents to 2 girls and 1 boy.

“That makes us grandparents to 28. 4 of which are great grandchildren. 12 boys and 12 girls. Aren't we lucky? Yes, we are.

“We attend a Baptist Church pastored by our son-in-law, Phillip Youngblood, husband of our youngest daughter, Sha.

“Last year Earl was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had surgery and now I'm happy to say he is cancer-free, doing great.

“I also am a free-lance photographer Most all pics I have taken are mostly of my family. Grandchildren and children.

“Thanks for liking them. I'm proud to say they are mine.

“You probably wouldn't recognize me because my hair was black. I was senior Homecoming princess (at Monongah High) and I was escorted by James Davis. The car was driven by Earl McDougal in the parade. And I married him years later.”

So the Princess married the Chaffeur. I think I’ve seen a movie similar that. It starred Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn as the rich son who falls for the chaffeur’s daughter in “Sabina,” a 1954 movie.

Earl’s brother, the late Johnny McDougal, also graduated from Monongah High. So did Mareia’s sister, Sherry Wilmouth Vance, and her husband.

Sibling Helen Louise McDougal Mudry, Class of 1965, married Ronald Alan Mudry, class of 1967. They are the parents of Dr. Ronald Alan Mudry, Jr. and Ryan Edward Mudry.  They have 3 granddaughters, Joelie Mudry, Hannah Rinker and Megan Rinker. 

Helen & Ron live in the McDougal homeplace on Swisher Hill.  Ron is retired from Robinson Run Mine No. 95 and Helen has been with American Greetings for 35 years.  She previously worked at City National Bank and Westinghouse.

Ron’s hobbies are fishing and hunting. Helen’s are “spending time with my  family and my besties, especially my grandchildren, and traveling.”

McDougal sibling Jimmy married Darlene Sue Morgan McDougal. They have 5 girls and 2 boys: Laurinda, Angela, Pam, Lori, Jimmy, all living in West Virginia, and twins Brian and Bridgette. Jimmy and Brian live in Fletcher, North Carolina near Asheville. Bridgette lives in Virginia and is expecting.

Jimmy and Darlene have 11 grandchildren with another due soon. Jimmy worked at Brown Lumber Company in West Virginia before moving to North Carolina and working at Frigidaire, then Lowe’s before retirement. Darlene is a Clarksburg Liberty High grad.

They live in Fairview, Buncombe County, North Carolina, also in the Asheville area.

Jimmy enjoys fishing, hunting, camping and hiking. They like to travel. He loved babysitting his youngest grandson till the little tyke went to pre-K. Loves spending time with kids when they come.

The oldest brother, the late John McDougal, Jr., was born February 28, 1927 in Nutter Fort. He lived in the Fairmont area in mining camps until his parents, John and Lora, bought the house on Swisher Hill. He married the late Doris.

Johnny attended Monongah High until he was 17 when he joined the Navy prior to his graduation. After Great Lakes Naval Station basic training he was sent to Port Hueneme in California before being shipped out to Guam in World War II. He was injured and received a Purple Heart. He was discharged in 1945 after the war with Japan ended.

Johnny worked at a dime store on his return to Fairmont. So did Doris. That’s where they met, dated and were married August 30, 1947.

Their daughters are Judy, Cynthia, Terry and the late Barbara.

Judy was born in Fairmont and went to Wheeling with the family when she was 3, where Johnny was an insurance company adjuster.

Daughter Cynthia was born in Wheeling, a month premature. After the family moved to Clarksburg, daughter Terry was born. Johnny and daughter Barbara both passed away in 2007, three years after Johnny’s wife Doris passed away.

Johnny worked for Black Rock Paving Company, later was transferred to the main office in Charleston. He rented in Nitro near Charleston until he and Doris bought the house two doors down from their rental, just like my parents Johnny and Lena Olesky bought the Church Street house across from their Thomas Street rental in Monongah when my sister Jackie and I were children.

Another sibling is Edna Mae McDougal Saunders, Class of 1948, who married James Leonard Saunders, Sr. Both are deceased. Edna passed away in 2011.

 

She was an accountant for the Southland Corporation in Virginia. She attended the Swisher Hill Union Mission Church and the Everson Baptist Church, and was a member of the Local Eastern Star Chapter # 34.

Edna loved to crochet and research family genealogy.

Her son, the Rev. Richard Edward Saunders, lives in Dale City, Virgina with wife Teresa Anne.

Edna’s sisters-in-law are Doris McDougal of North Carolina and Kathlene Saunders Blakemore of Kingmont, widow of Edna’s son, “Rat” Saunders. Her grandchildren are John Parks, married to Carrie, and Daniel Parks of Florida, father of Edna’s great-grandson, Jonah Parks.

And that, my friends, is the end of a long but fascinating story about one of Marion County’s most patriotic and interesting families. A real Pride of Lions that their country should be proud of, too, with so many serving in the military.

I salute the McDougal family and all other Monongah High alumni and their children and grandchildren who served our country. We owe them a debt that we can never repay.

 

 track of each other. I went to school with Reva McDougal Ash and Edna at Monongah High. I publish the Monongah High Alumni blog and would like to do my popular Catching Up With article on the McDougal family. The hits on the blog double when I do a Catching Up With article with photos. I grabbed your facebook photo of the 4 remaining siblings. If you have photos of the deceased sibling(s) email them in jpeg format to me or point out where they are on your Facebook photos album. My best to Reva! Thank you. Three years I did this montage of Reva for a Catching Up With.