Frances King Cameon passes away

Frances King Cameon, Class of  1942, passed away Thursday, December 26.

Her daughters are Angela Cameon Viney, Class of 1968; Joanna Cameon Reeves, Class of 1971; Francine Cameon Jurosko, Class of 1978; and Denise Cameon Jett.

Cameons are all over Monongah High’s graduation lists and I’ll be darned if I can connect all the dots.

Such as:

Billy Cameon, Class of 1960.

Sheri Slamen Cameon, 1980 North Marion grad, married to Stan Cameon, 1981 North Marion grad.

Virginia Cameon Mezzanotte, who married Pat Mezzanotte and is a daughter of Clyde and Maggie Cameon.

Bill and Virginia’s siblings are Nathaleen Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948; Pete Cameon, Class of 1958; Linda Cameon, Class of 1966, Arthur Cameon, Joe Cameon and Rudy Cameon.

 

Constance Koldres Cameon, Class of 1963;  and the late Albert Cameon.

 

Peter Cameon, Cynthia Cameon, Christopher Cameon, Craig and Laura Cameon,

 

Brian Cameon, Albert Cameon, Class of 1947, Bill Cameon and Peter Cameon; Virginia Cameon Mezzanotte, Natalie Cameon Oliverio and Linda Cameon.

 

Frances’ obituary:

Frances Anna Cameon
August 11, 1924 - December 26a, 2019...
Frances Anna Cameon, age 95, passed away peacefully on December 26. Frances was born on August 11, 1924 in Widen, WV, the daughter of Dorothea Anna Tekaucic and George Kralj (King). At the age of 12, her parents moved to Carolina.

Before starting a family, Frances was employed at Owens Illinois, Westinghouse, Consolidation Coal Company Store and Recreation Center. While working at the Rec Center, she met her future husband, Joe Cameon. They were married on July 2, 1949 at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church in Monongah. Joe preceded her in death in 2008.

Baptized and raised Roman Catholic, Frances was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church until it closed. She was a woman of strong faith that prayed daily and counseled her children to pray about their concerns and needs.

A graduate of Monongah High School, Frances considered a career in nursing but her vocation and her life was spent in caring for her parents, husband, and raising and loving her children and grandchildren. She was truly a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She also found great joy as an avid gardener, in baking, and cooking for family and friends.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was also preceded in death by her sons, George Claudius (1992) and Joseph (2019); and her grandson, Charles Joseph Jett (2015).

She is survived by her four daughters, Angela Viney, Joanna Reeves and husband Arthur, Francine Jurosko and husband Greg, Denise Jett, and daughter-in-law, Mary Cameon.

Survivors also include grandchildren, Jeffrey Viney and wife Wendy, Adam Reeves and wife Barby, Hollie Jo Reeves, Brittany Jurosko, Zachery Jett, Chad Morris and wife Valerie, Casey Morris and wife Shannon, Christy Cumberledge and husband Jeff. There are also 13 great grandchildren.

Please join the family in celebrating her life with visitation at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday December 30 with the praying of the Rosary at 6:00 p.m. Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be on Tuesday, December 31 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mannington. Interment will follow at Shinnston Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Barbara’s Nursing Home or WV Caring Hospice Services in Morgantown. Online condolences can be made to the family at Domico Funeral Home.

Lillian Uram passes away at 97

Lillian Uram, whose two daughters live in Monongah, passed away Wednesday, December 25 at the age of 97.

Her children are Jean Mayo and Betty Sheaffer of Monongah and Mike Uram, Jr., who lives in Fairmont, and Tom Uram, who lives in Monumental.

I found Urams mostly as Farmington High graduates in my North Marion alumni book.

Lillian’s final four years were spent at St. Barbara’s Nursing Home in Monongah, near her daughters.

Lillian’s obituary:

Lillian Uram, 97, went to be with the Lord, with her family by her side, on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 at the St. Barbara’s Nursing Home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born August 20, 1922 in Meretta, PA, a daughter of the late Steve and Caroline Culi.

A devoted Catholic, she was very active in the Women’s Society at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Farmington. She was a homemaker and wonderful mother who will be missed greatly by all who knew her, both family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, polka, and family get togethers.

Survivors include her children: Mike Uram, Jr., Fairmont, Tom Uram, Monumental, Jean (Sonny) Mayo and Betty Sheaffer, all of Monongah; a son-in-law, Mitch Casto, VA; 12 grandchidren; 18 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; and a sister, Margaret Watson, Farmington.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Mike Uram, Sr.; a daughter: Dolores Casto; 2 daughters-in-law: Judy Uram and Sue Uram; a brother: John Culi; a sister: Pauline Collins; and an infant sister.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Barbara’s Memorial Nursing Home for their outstanding care for the past four years.

Friends may call at the Hutson Funeral Home, 3171 Husky Highway, Farmington, on Friday from 4-8 p.m. where the Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Father Vincy Illickal officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, @ https://alz.org/. www.hutsonfuneralhomes.com .

Shingles for Duane

 

Duane Harbert, Class of 1951, who lives in Marlton, New Jersey, is dealing with painful shingles.

 

Let Duane explain it:

 

“They came on suddenly on Dec. 8th and the pain has eased only a little even with the prescribed medication.  I had the shingles vaccination a few years back but it didn't help that I can tell.  The pain is about on the same level as broken ribs.”

 

Duane actually goes by Donald nowadays, but everyone at Monongah High knows him as Duane. The Army made him go by his first name.

 

He was in the faceitiously named Gang That Terrorized Marion County along with Sonny Godby, Satch Kasper, Bucky Satterfield, Bruno Franze, Jake Halpenny, Cooley Delovich, Plumber DeMary, Tony Eates, Joe Manzo, Judge Starcher and me.

 

You’ll notice that I didn’t give their given first names of Lawrence, Bob, Steven, Frank, Donald, Ronnie, Anthony, Anthony or Tom. I was Junebug. You weren't "in" unless you had a nickname.

 

We roamed Marion County, including Drummond’s where we would bring an empty gallon jug to be filled with beer and Melody Manor where I had my first whisky sour (2 of them knocked me on my butt).

 

We would go to the drive-in, with only 2 or 3 in the vehicle to pay their way in. The rest of us would sneak over the fence. If the manager caught us we would scatter throughout the drive-in grounds so that it was impossible to know who paid and who didn’t.

 

We were stupid and mischievious, but not mean. We didn’t beat up people.

 

When the police showed up at Fairmont Field Club because we were swimming in their pool at 3 a.m. the cops tracked us down via the license plate on Duane’s father’s car.

 

Duane’s dad was Frank Harbert, principal at Thoburn School. They lived in Worthington.

 

I walked home barefoot (3 miles?) and thought  I had gotten away with it until the next morning, when I woke up and my father was standing over me with my shoes in his hands.

 

Deputy Sheriff Frank Koloski, father of my sister Jackie’s friend Lorain, delivered them to my father with an explanation.

 

All of us were taken to Fairmont to the Consolidation Coal Company office and given the Scared Straight treatment by authorities with our parents present and approving of it.

 

No juvenile detention. Just trying to put a lid on coal miners’ children. Much easier to survive an encounter with the law than nowadays. More common sense approach.

 

On Duane's final night before heading for the Navy, we partied all night with him, then dumped him at Clarksburg bus terminal for his journey to swabbie town.

 

Long ride with a hangover. Not much fun. But great memories.

 

As my son always says, “If you can keep your children alive till they are 30, they’ll be alright.”

 

Who knew my late wife Monnie Turkette Olesky and I produced America’s Aristotle.

Maybe Greg Patrick, Class of 1970, should arrange for transportation via Santa’s sleigh and his 8 tiny reindeer.

Greg was on his way to Kiev aka Kyiv, which is in the Ukraine, where Greg goes to visit his friends.

But United Airline isn’t as hospitable and reliable as Santa Claus and his reindeer sled.

I’ll let Greg explain:

“Well, I’m staying upstairs at the United Airline Gates tonight. The lady said she would check on me later and bring me a blanket. Flight 7:30 a.m. to Newark!!! What a Christmas Eve!!!

“THIS IS INSANE!!!!!!

“I have two 12-hour layovers tomorrow, too. I will be 12 hours in Newark and 12 hours now in Munich. I won’t arrive in Kiev until 26th!!”

This will, indeed, be a Christmas that Greg will never forget . . . and for all the wrong reasons.

Apparently, fog and air travel don’t mix.

Greg’s trips to Ukraine seem to be jinxed. A few years back he arrived in Kiev dealing with serious health problems. In 3 weeks Greg had to deal with 3 catheters and 3 trips to the doctor.

Ukraine is bordered by Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Greg’s Kiev friends have tried to return the favor, but . . . well, I’ll let Greg explain it:

“They HAVE NOT been able to visit! We have tried twice to acquire visitor visas but they were denied. Very sad!!!”

A curse of the Trump era. Visitors aren’t given easy access unless they pay off the Trump family.

 

Greg is the leader of the Jenna Won’t Sing Band, Monongah’s No. 1 band that plays throughout Marion County and at the Monongahfest every year.

He is an energetic and ecstatic and beloved social studies teacher at Fairmont Catholic School, where he began four days before his official retirement after 37 years at Miller Junior High and West Fairmont Middle School.

After a childhood in Monongah, Greg graduated from Fairmont State with a degree in education and got a master’s degree at West Virginia University.

In 2000, Greg returned to Monongah to take care of his ailing father. Now, “I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” Greg says.

Monongah is richer for that.

Jim Pulice, Eric Pulice and Ron Yanero are Greg’s co-conspirators in the Jenna Won’t Sing Band. Jim Pulice and Greg have been connected to music and have been friends since grade school. Their first band, Valley Fogg, was formed in 1967.

 

They reunited in 1982 along with Jim Pulice's brother, Robert, and Jim's brother-in-law, Phil Westfall, to form Melofin.

 

Jim Pulice, Class of 1969, is a retired Monongah Middle School principal and son of Jim Pulice, my former CYO basketball coach. I was about the worst player on the team. When I took a shot I prayed harder than anyone on the court, which was appropriate since it was a church league. 

 

Today, they are re-united with Jim's son and a friend, Ron Yanero, to form Jenna Won’t Sing.

 

Greg’s other great love is cars. Exotic muscle cars. He runs the Monongahfest Car Show every year and travels around the country to see those magnificent metal masterpieces at other car shows.

Hopefully, Greg’s return trip from the Ukraine won’t be as traumatic. Oh, vey!

Bob Cottrill with John Olesky in Bob's Melbourne home in 2015

Bob Cottrill breaks leg, in rehab

Bob Cottrill, Class of 1951, who lives in Melbourne, Florida, broke his femur and is in rehab.

The femur is the bone that connects the knee bone to the hip bone.

Duane Harbert, Class of 1951, who gave me the news, emailed me that “it sounds like he is having a hard time.”

Turns out Bob was jitterbugging and fell. He asked a family friend to do the last dance with him. Bob said he "twirled." His footwear near moved. Splat! Broken femur.

His bone between the hip bone and the knee bone is encased in a strip of metal attached by a bolt with an anchor on end.

Good thing Bob was the toughet football player in Monongah High history. When he carried the football he would run over and lay out the would-be tackler. Again and again.

After all, Bob worked in the coal mines and went to Monongah High at the same time. He really hit hard on the gridiron!

Bob is in the Life Care Center in Palm Bay, which is about 5 miles from his Melbourne, Florida game. I've been there a few times when Paula and I spend our winters in The Villages, Florida. Melbourne is close to the Atlantic Ocean.

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.

 

Bob’s grandson, Chris Barnes, son of Bob’s daughter, Rhonda, works for Fidelity Mortgage and Title out of Akron. 

 

Bob also has sons Rob in Atlanta and Randy in Tampa.

Bob’s first wife, Barbara Jean Henderson Cottrill, a 1955 Fairmont Nursing School graduate who was nursing manager for Suburban Cleveland Hospital, which later was absorbed into the Cleveland Clinic system, passed away in 2007.

 Bob’s friends conducted a memorial in Macedonia, near Northfield and Akron, for Barb, who was nursing manager for Suburban Cleveland Hospital, which later was absorbed into the Cleveland Clinic system.

Bob married again in 2011, to Thelma from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a friend of Bob and Barbara.

Bob a few years back got a visit from Swisher Hill’s Tony Orsini, Class of 1946, and his wife, Mary Louise Baker Orsini, in the Class of 1948. Mary Louise has since passed away.

Bob played football with Tony’s late brothers, Tom "Bum" Orsini, Class of 1950, whose widow, Peggy Rauer Orsini, lives in Titusville, Florida, and Bum’s brother, Cocoa Orsini.

The Orsini brothers were Tony, Tom “Bum”, Larry, Jimmy, Junior "Cocoa" and Bill. Still alive are Tony and Jimmy, who resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Bob’s Florida MHS reunions included Delores Vingle Olender, Class of 1951, who was in the Ray Vingle Band long ago. Ted Nagle, Class of 1954, who lived in Vinton, Virginia and Micco, Florida, also had a reunion with Deloris several years ago in Micco.

Bob remains friends with Tom Martin, Class of 1951, who winters on Marco Island, Florida with his wife.

 

Bob owns Cottrill’s Mountain, 120 acres near Burnsville, West Virginia. His children and grandchildren use it for their private park and playground.

The late Paula Cottrill was Bob’s half-sister. So are Bill Cottrill and the late Chatta Belle Castro. They all had the same father, who remarried after divorcing his first wife, but different mothers.

Tina Virginia “Peaches” Aldridge DeMary, Class of 1945, passed away Tuesday, December 17.

Peaches is survived by her children, Patti Evans and her husband Brian of Fairmont, Mike DeMary and his wife Beth of Monongah and Betty Anne DeMary of Fairmont with whom she made her home.     

Peaches was predeceased by her husband, Frank DeMary, Jr., Class of 1947; a brother, John Aldridge and his wife Mickey; sisters, Betty Aldridge and Dorothy Basagic.

Frank and Peaches once had a grocery store at the end of Bridge Street in Monongah before they moved to Rivesville. DeMarys’ Market in Rivesville, run by the late John June DeMary, Class of 1937, sometimes gets confused with the DeMary Grocery in Monongah, which Peaches and her husband operated at the end of Bridge Street in Monongah before they moved to Rivesville. Previously, Peaches and Frank owned a grocery store in Pennsylvania.

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.

Patty DeMary Evans, Class of 1972, Peaches' daughter, is married to retired coal miner Brian Evans, Class of 1969. They live in Fairmont but have spent some time on Carrabelle Beach in Florida’s northwest panhandle, on the Gulf of Mexico coastline southwest of Tallahassee. Patti is a retired nurse (1987-2006) and graduate of MHS and Fairmont State.

Frank, Jr.’s parents were Frank Joseph DeMary, who passed away in 1972, and Lena Duva DeMary, who passed away in 1986. His siblings are Louise DeMary Lusi of Clearwater, Florida and Rose Ann DeMary Flore, Class of 1943, married to Robert and living in Princeton, Rhode Island.

Frank, Jr.’s brother, Joseph A. DeMary of Rivesville, passed away in 2007. Joe’s children are Kimberly Jo DeMary Clowers, married to Earl Clowers and living in Rossville, Georgia; Sgt. 1^st Class Joanne Mary DeMary of Fort Meade, Maryland; another Joseph Allen DeMary, living in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee with wife Yvonne; and Julie Ann DeMary, also of Soddy.

Peaches, which Patti Evans told me was given to her by Peaches’ father when she was a baby, was an appropriate nickname for her. She was, indeed, a peach that I remember from my younger days in Monongah although she graduated five years before I did.

Peaches’ niece, Jennifer Aldridge Payton, proves a loving and accurate description of her:

“My Aunt Peach was the sweetest lady I’ve ever met. I remember growing up thinking how beautiful she was. It seemed like she never aged. Please keep her children, grandchildren and all who loved her in your thoughts though we know she’s at peace. This will sure leave a huge void especially now during the holidays. Love you Patti DeMary Evans, BettyAnne DeMary and Brianna Evans Wimbish.”

Jennifer is an assistant teacher at Learningland Daycare & Preschool and worked at North Central West Virginia Community Action Head start program and at WVU Medicine Children's Wing. She lives in Worthington.

Peaches was in the same class with Jackie Bagshaw Cogar, who married the son of Ava and Fred Cogar of Cottage Street. Ava was the best friend of my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, who lives across U.S. 19 on Church Street from the Cogars.

Also in the 1945 class was Freda Brzuzy, sister of the late Walter Brzuzy, in my Class of 1950. And Mary Catania Heywood, who was two doors down from the Olesky rental on Thomas Street before she moved to Covina, California, where she lives today. Her sister, Josephine, was near my age and we were friends.

And, Monongah’s sweetheart, Ann DeMary Eates, married to Joe Eates and living on Bridge Street. Ann and Joe are the godparents of my son, John Larry Olesky.

And Walter Debalski, Jr., a Marine war hero; Nick Demus, a football hero at Monongah High; and Raymond Vingle, of the famous musical Vingle family.

Class of 1945 was an amazing class that graduated as World War II at last was winding to  its end.

Peaches’ obituary:

Visitation
Friday, Dec 20, 2019
3:00 PM-8:00 PM

Vigil Rite
Friday, Dec 20, 2019
7:00 PM

Catholic Funeral Liturgy
Saturday, Dec 21, 2019
10:00 AM

Tina "Peaches" DeMary

June 05, 1928 - December 17, 2019

Tina “Peaches” Virginia DeMary, 91, of Fairmont, passed away Tuesday, December 17, 2019. She was born in Monongah on June 5, 1928, a daughter of the late Edward Aldridge and Opal Cox Aldridge.

Tina is survived by her children, Patti Evans and her husband Brian of Fairmont, Mike DeMary and his wife Beth of Monongah, and Betty Anne DeMary of Fairmont with whom she made her home; three grandchildren, Brett Evans and his wife Crystal of Pittsburgh, Brianna Wimbish and her husband Chuck of Fairmont, and Jeremy Evans and his wife Jennifer of Fairmont; and six great grandchildren, Joshlynn and Marissa Boone, Maddox Wimbish, Camden, Brayden, and Brea Evans, who filled her days with love and happiness.  Also surviving are several nieces and nephews; special cousins Ann and Joe Eates of Monongah; and her dog, Koby.

In addition to her parents, Tina was preceded in death by her husband, Frank DeMary, Jr.; a brother, John Aldridge and his wife Mickey; sisters, Betty Aldridge and Dorothy Basagic; a nephew, John Rodney Basagic; and great nephew, Bobby Aldridge.

The family would like to give thanks to Dr. Ang and his office staff, the staff at St. Barbara’s Memorial Nursing Home, Monica Taylor with the Marion County Senior Center, Debbie Vandetta – her family friend and personal beautician, and Amedisys Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Barbara’s Activity Center or the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Friday, December 20, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Vigil rites will be Friday at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. with Deacon Lou Belldina. Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. with Father Vincent Joseph as celebrant. Interment will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Fairmont. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .

No matter how hard God tried he couldn’t make a better couple than Ann DeMary Eates and Joe Eates, both Class of 1945.

Ann’s  parents were Anthony and Lucy Damico DeMary.

Ann's siblings include Jimmy DeMary, Virginia DeMary Rossi and Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr., all deceased.

Joe's siblings include Mike Eates; Dominick Eates, Class of 1946, who married the late Mary Larry Eates from Carolina; Nick Eates, Class of 1935; Mary Eates, Angie Eates all deceased; and Tony Eates, in my Class of 1950, who lives in Fairmont with wife Lucy Cann Eates.

Ann and Joe live at the bottom of Bridge Street hill. Ann DeMary Eates and Joe Eates are the godparents of John Larry Olesky of Tallmadge, Ohio, the only son of John Olesky, Jr., Class of 1950, who also lives in Tallmadge.

Virginia DeMary Rossi and Christine “Tina” Tartell Arnett, both Class of 1953, were born on the same day – April 24, 1935 -- and died two hours apart on the same day – August 20, 1982 -- and were best friends for life. At Monongah High, they were Student Council representatives together for their senior class in 1953.

 

Tina was the maid of honor at Virginia’s wedding to James Rossi.  David Tartell was a pallbearer at Michael DeMary’s funeral in 2007. Tina was Paula Rossi Wiley’s godmother.

 

Virginia DeMary Rossi is buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery on Park Avenue in Monongah. Nearby are the side-by-side graves of Lee and Josephine Tartell, Tina’s parents, and Lucy and Anthony DeMary, Virginia’s father’s brother.

As for Ann and Joe, St. Peter already has their angel wings and special halos prepared for them in Heaven.

I call Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, Monongah High’s de facto historian, the head of the “Monongah High Alumni blog Monongah Bureau” because I couldn’t do my Monongah High Alumni blog without Ramona’s help. She provided me with Monongah High graduation lists for every year from the first class in 1918 through the final class in 1979.

Whenever I don’t know the connections of former Lions I’m writing about, I call Ramona, whose memory is excellent. When I visit her home every room was filled with Monongah High memorabilia, down to the MHS Lion with water spitting out of its mouth.

Ramona also is the hostest with the mostest. Her home and pool are party central for nearly any Lions passing through Monongah.

Ramona is the widow of Frank Michalski, who was in the Class of 1949 but dropped out after the 1948 football season. Frank was my playground protector at Sts. Peter and Paul School. When I was bullied over my cleft palate speech defect, Frank stepped in and made it clear that if they did it they would have to deal with him. It never happened again during my eight years under the nuns’ tutelage.

Frank and Ramona had six children.

Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, of Kilarm, married Dave Westfall, Class of 1948. The others were Mike Michalski (wife Jan) and Jay Michalski (wife Debbie), both of Monongah, Carol Michalski Drake (husband Bob) of Shinnston and Monie Michalski, who lives with Ramona Fullen Michalski on Bridge Street Extension just outside the  Monongah town limits.

Another child, Mary Frances Michalski Gapen, Class of 1968, married to Rick Gapen, passed away in 2012. Mary was a super teacher at Barrackville Middle School and Monongah Elementary.

Ramona's grandson, Tony Michalski, is Marion County Parks and Recreation Comission executive director.

Ramona's grandfather was the half-brother of the father of Shirley Fullen, Class of 1954. The late Jim Fullen, Class of 1962; Dan Fullen, Class of 1961, who lives in Four States; Connie Fullen Cantrell, Class of 1966,  who lives in Jasper, Alabama; and Charlotte Fullen Lloyd, Class of 1968, who lives in Bear, Delaware, are siblings

I call Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, the Angel of Thomas Street. She has earned the title.

Susan is on the Monongah Town Council, the founder and chairman of the Monongah Friends of the Christmas Lights Committee that raised enough money for 61 Christmas street lights in a town of 900+ people and helps care for Amelia Shenasky Zentz, the daughter of Nell and Pete Shenasky of P.P. Shenasky Grocery fame in Monongah who will celebrate her 100^th birthday January 11 in the Monongah Town Hall with the townsfolk gathered around the legendary grande dame of Monongah.

The committee’s current lineup:

President - Susan Sanders, Class of 1971.

Vice President - Shelly Yankie, 2002 North Marion grad.

Treasurer - Linda McCullough.

Secretary - Kitty Morrison, Class of 1968.

 

Alternates - Josh Scritchfield, North Marion grad; Breanna Stewart, Bill McCullough, 1988 North Marion grad Amanda Morgan, another North Marion grad Amber Efaw.

I visited my Christmas street light, the pearl in a seashell outside my childhood Church Street home representing the Resurrection of Christ (the pearl) rising from his tomb (the seashell), with my daughter LaQuita and her husband, Tom Timberlake, who took most of the photos in this blog article. My contribution mainly was photos of my great-granddaughter, Eliza Frances Timberlake, who lives in Canal Winchester, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, with her parents, Dr. Dylan Timberlake and Casey Benedetti Timberlake.

Susan’s husband, Ron Sanders, is a Vietnam veteran. Susan’s brother, the late Bob Staron, Class of 1967, fought in Vietnam, too. Susan and Ron met at a night club on Morgantown Avenue in Fairmont.

Susan and Ron’s son, Tommy Sanders, is a WVU computer engineering graduate.

Susan’s parents were Stanley Staron and Alice Staron. Her siblings are Jack Staron, Bill Staron and the late Tom Staron and Bob Staron.

Susan grew up with Becky Urish Anderson, who today lives in Clarksburg, and went to Monongah High with Becky. They are both Class of 1971.

Susan is a Personnel retiree. Susan and Ron live on Thomas Street, where the Mangino family lived when the Olesky family was in the last Thomas Street rental before the Church Street intersection till my parents bought the Church Street home that Angelo and Mary Dudash Raymond were renting in the mid-1940s.

On the other side of the Sanders house is the former Catania house, before Angelo Catania, Class of 1943, convinced his siblings and father Mandala Catania to move to Covina, California, where Angelo was stationed at a military base. Mary Catania Heywood, Class of 1945, still lives there. Angelo, Alex Catania, Class of 1944, Josephine Catania, Class of 1952, and Mandala, widower of Schiro Catania, passed away.

Carmella Catania Allard, Class of 1947, are in San Antonio because her husband, Omer Allard, still was in the Air Force when the Catania migration took place. When Omer retired, he and Carmella remained in San Antonio.

The trip included Olesky family reunions in Fairmont, at the Say Boy Restaurant where my father introduced me to my first ribeye steak when I was a teenager, and in the Columbus suburb Canal Winchester, home of my 4^th great-grandchild, Eliza Frances Timberlake, daughter of Dr. Dylan Timberlake and wife Casey Timberlake and granddaughter of LaQuita Olesky Timberlake and Tom Timberlake.

At Say Boy, where I returned for another ribeye 75 years after my first taste of what became my #1 choice in steaks, were my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, of Rivesville; Jackie’s daughter, Belinda Straight Morris; Belinda’s husband, Dave Morris; Jackie’s daughter, Renee Straight; John Olesky, Class of 1950; John’s daughter, LaQuita Olesky Timberlake; LaQuita’s husband, Tom Timberlake.

Also at Say Boy was Linda McCullough, part of Susan Staron Sanders’ Charge of the Lights Brigade, as I call them, the committee that raised money for 31 Christmas street lights brightening Monongah’s streets during the holiday period.

So was her sister Christy Hamilton, who lives in Butler, Pennsylvnia, and their mom Joyce Locke. Christy lived with Linda in Monongah for a couple years in high school before graduating from North Marion. Their Mom is from Fairmont. Their late father was Larry Lee Hamilton, Class of 1969.

The family was having a family dinner after a memorial service for another sister, Lori Morris.

In Canal Winchester for an Olesky-ish reunion were Dylan, Case, Eliza, LaQuita, Tom and John.

Jackie’s other daughter is Lea Ann Straight Barnes, married to David Barnes.

Monnie Elizabeth Turkette Olesky was named for her grandmother, Monte Compton Turkette, and Elizabeth Fugett Brooks.

The busy doctor who delivered Monnie waited a week to fill out a stack of birth certificates in Williamson. He spelled her name Monia.

Monnie’s mother called her Monie. Monnie signed her photo she gave me during our two courtship years as Mona. We were married 48 years when Monnie passed away in 2004. The name on her grave in Northlawn Memorial Gardens is Monnie, which is what the doctor should have written down and what everyone called her throughout her life.

Monnie’s mother, Virginia Belle Turkette, was the daughter of Elizabeth Fugett Brooks, who married Charlie Brooks.

Monnie’s daughter is Monnie Ann Olesky Johnston, who lives in Brunswick, Ohio.

One of Monnie Ann’s daughters is Monnie Lynn Johnston, who lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Monnie Ann’s other daughter is Beth Johnston, who lives in Cleveland area.

So Monte Compton Turkette and Elizabeth Fugett Brooks gave Monnie her names of Monnie Elizabeth.

Monnie and I named our youngster daughter Monnie Ann Olesky, now a Johnston.

Monnie Ann named her daughters Monnie Lynn and Beth, both using my beloved late wife Monnie Elizabeth’s names.

Dr. Dylan Timberlake, son of Monnie’s daughter Dawn LaQuita Olesky Timberlake, and Dylan’s wife Casey named their daughter Eliza Frances. So Eliza and Beth make Elizabeth, my late wife Monnie’s middle name.