ANN EATES CHOSEN WOMAN OF THE YEAR IN MONONGAH

 

Ann Eates, widow of Joe Eates, was named Woman of the Year by the Monongah Christmas Lights Committee.

Christmas Lights Committee president and founder Susan Staron posted:

“Ann Eates she's very well known in town and a beautiful women who is a huge supporter to our town. We honored her with a banner of her and her husband Joe who passed away a while ago (2020). Monongah Mayor Johnboy Palmer came with a bouquet of roses. It was an unforgettable experience. Just beautiful.”

In 2010 Ann and Joe were named Monongahfest Citizens of the Year. Both are Class of 1945. 

They were leaders of the Monongah Heroine Committee which, with a major financial boost from the government of Italy for the $75,000 project, put up a statue honoring the wives of the 362 miners killed in the 1907 mines explosions in Monongah.

 

Ann and Joe, whose home is at the bottom of Bridge Street hill, 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.

Ann’s  parents were Anthony and Lucy Damico DeMary. Ann's siblings Jimmy DeMary, Virginia DeMary Rossi and Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr. are deceased. Plumber was in the Class of 1950 with me and Joe’s brother, Tony Eates.

 

Tony Eates lives in Fairmont with wife Lucy Cann Eates. Other siblings, all deceased, are Nick Eates, Class of 1935; Dominick Eates, Class of 1946, a former Monongah High football punter who married the late Mary Larry Eates from Carolina; Mike Eates; Mary Eates; and Angeline Eates.

 

Mike, who passed away in 2008, was married to the late Clarksburg Washington Irving High graduate Jeannie Eates.