Jay Michalski, 1980 North Marion graduate, and Debby Mason Michalski celebrated their 33^rd wedding anniversary.

Debby posted:

“Happy 33^rd Anniversary Jay! Looking forward to the next 33! Thanks for spoiling me all of these years.”

Debby is a sales representative for the United Security Agency, a former agency assistant at Horace Mann and a graduate of Grafton High and Salem College. Her parents are Linda Mason Williams and John Mason of Folsom, the one near New Martinsville and not the prison that Johnny Cash sang about.

Jay works for a Fairmont recyling company.

His parents are Ramona Fullen Michalski, who lives off Bridge Street Extension just outside the Monongah city limits, and the late Frank Michalski, in the Class of 1949 and an outstanding Monongah High football player.

Jay’s siblings are Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974, of Kilarm, married to Dave Westfall, Class of 1948; Mike Michalski, living in Monongah with wife Jan; Carol Michalski Drake, living in Shinnston with husband Bob; and Ramona Michalski, who lives with mom Ramona in Monongah.

Another child, Mary Frances Michalski Gapen, Class of 1968, married to Rick Gapen, passed away in 2012.

Ashley Barnes, granddaughter of Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, had her wedding day with husband Tyler Dunn.

Attending the wedding were Jackie’s grandsons, Aaron and Adam Morris; Jackie’s daughter, Renee Straight; and, of course, Jackie's daughter Lea Ann and husband John Barnes, parents of the bride.

Aaron and Adam’s parents are Belinda and Dave Morris.

Aaron and wife Courtney, who took most of the photos, are expecting Jackie’s first great-grandchild in October.

Jackie is the widow of Dave Straight. She lives in the Rivesville home where Renee, Belinda and Lea Ann grew up on Paw-Paw Creek Road.

Jackie wore the earrings that I bought her for Christmas, with the help of my personal shopper, Belinda. So I guess I was there in spirit.

Weddings are a vital part of the cycle of life and the cementing of generations. The birth of a grandchild is another awesome moment in the lives of Lions all over America.

Jackie enjoyed the wedding. In October she will be awed by the appearance of a great-grandchild.

Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville, gained a granddaughter-in-law on Saturday, September 29 while WVU was stopping our hearts while trying to not collapse in a football game against Texas Tech.

I don’t understand why anyone in West Virginia would have a wedding when the Mountaineers are playing football, but that’s just me.

Jackie’s grandson, Aaron Morris, married Courtney Sloan. Aaron and Courtney were Fairmont West high school sweethearts. Aaron’s mother is Belinda Straight Morris, one of Jackie’s three daughters. Belinda is married to David Morris. Jackie is the widow of another David, David Straight.

Adam Morris, Aaron’s brother, was best man. 

Jackie’s other daughters are Lea Ann and Renee.

The wedding and reception took place in Bridgeport even though the bride and groom are from Fairmont because they needed a reception hall that would hold 300 people and a dance floor large enough to handle that many feet.

Jackie -- who received a Catholic Charities Salt and Light Award years ago for her charity work involving gettig gifts to children whose families do not have that much money, which she still does several times every year -- said grace at the reception. Mamaw, as her grandchildren call Jackie, focused on the deceased grandparents on both sides.

The Olesky side would be John W. Olesky, Sr., a coal miner who survived TWO cave-ins that covered at least 4 feet of any part of his body, and Lena Futten Olesky, who was born in Austria but left for America from Italy even though she never changed towns (World War I switched the boundaries so that the land went from being in Austria to being in Italy).

Joe Pat Vozniak’s daughter to wed Oct. 2

Kristen Vozniak, Mitch Vozniak and Barbara Prezioso Vozniak’s granddaughter, set the wedding date with Anthony Cowles.

It’s October 2, 2107.

Kristen lives in Spring Hill, Florida, after starting out in Monongah as the daughter of the late Joe Pat Vozniak, Mitch and Barbara’s son and a 1982 North Marion High grad and former Monongah firefighter. Mitch and Barbara are both Class of 1953.

Kristen graduated from Brooksville, Florida Central High School.

Monica Shelosky Cochran, a graduate of Saints Peter and Paul School and, in 1982, North Marion High, and Duane Cochran, also a 1982 North Marion grad, are celebrating their 27^th wedding anniversary.

Monica and Greg Shelosky are the children of Tom Shelosky, son of Julia Lazorick Shelosky and the late, amazing Green Hills golfer Stanley “Strob” Shelosky.

Tom’s sister, Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961, lives in Fairmont.
George Shelosky was Monica’s uncle.
Monica’s SP&P classmates included Melanie Ann Pagliaro, daughter of Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro, sister of the late Bob Raymond and daughter of Angelo Raymond and Mary Dudiak Raymond.

And Joanne DeMary, daughter of Joe DeMary and Laurelle “Lou” Costello Hustead and sister of Kim DeMary Clowers, Class of 1979, of Red Bank, Tennesee; Joe Jo-Jo DeMary, who lives in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee with wife Yvonne King DeMary;  and Julie Ann DeMary, also of Soddy-Daisy.

Melanie Ann was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding. The others were Debbie McCardle Stiles, Lenora Boord Montgomery and Shelly Carvillano Watson.

    

 

A niece of Jerry Loss, Class of 1956, who lives in North Olmsted, Ohio, is getting married in August.

So Jerry’s wife, Elaine Loss, attended the future bride’s wedding shower in nearby Olmsted Falls with two of Jerry and Elaine’s daughters, their granddaughter and Elaine’s sister, Annette Kruty.

As for Jerry, who has been dealing with TWO infections, Elaine reports:

“Jerry is doing much better, thank you. Two bouts with 2 different infections was crazy, but it is OVER now.  What happens next? God only knows. For now, it is back to normal.”

Jerry grew up on the Mill Fall farm of his parents, Frank and Gezala Futten Loss, who came from Pellizzano, Italy to America in 1920 with John Olesky’s mother, Lena Futten Olesky, when they were children, along with their brother, Si Futten, who was a long-time Fairmont barber before he passed away.

Jerry’s brother, Robert Loss, also a Monongah High grad, is deceased. John’s sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, lives in Rivesville.

 



Bride Amanda Rogers

Mary Ahouse “Kitty” Morrison, Class of 1968, and Sue Ahouse Shrader, Class of 1971, have been having a ball for a week in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

But it’s just an excuse to be in town for the wedding of Josh Rogers, son of Doris Carpenter Rogers, Class of 1971, and Scott Rogers to Amanda Wray. Doris and Scott live in Charleston.

Doris and Sue have been friends since second grade so it’s no surprise she’ll be at the wedding. Or that Kitty tags along with Sue.

Doris’ parents were Bill Carpenter and Iris Delores Martin Carpenter, Class of 1950. 

Doris’ siblings are Will Carpenter, Class of 1975, who lives in Fairmont, and Amy Carpenter.

The Ahouse sisters checked out of their condo rental and are checking into the Music Road Hotel for the Pigeon Forge wedding.

It should be a raucous time. Already there are reports of guests “doing shots of Jager with Josh’s mom.” That would be Doris.

These are former Lions who know how to have a roaring good time. A wedding is a perfect place for it. Tennessee is an incredible setting, too.

There’s nothing like a wedding to make for a happy hanging-out with Harberts.

In this case, Monongah resident Paul Harbert’s son, Evan, was marrying Ivy Bartlett on September 26, 2015 at the Fairmont Field Club, where I caddied and earned money to go to and graduate from West Virginia University School of Journalism. Paul, owner/president of McCoy Land Surveying, lives in Monongah with wife Debra Harbert, previously from Idamay.

Jimmy Harbert is a North Marion graduate who lives in Idamay with his wife, Crystal Stanley Harbert.

Kathy Harbert Colson lives in Edgewater, Maryland and is from Fairmont.

Joseph Harbert is a Fairmont State graduate from Idamay employed by Maryland’s Cecil County public schools who lives in North East, Maryland with wife Lindsey Crothers Harbert. Cecil County is the most northeast county in Maryland, thus the name, and it borders both Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Minnie Hinerman Harbert, Class of 1957, who previously lived in Monongah, is married to Farmington High and Fairmont State graduate David Harbert and lives in Idamay. Dave’s father was Sam Harbert, brother of former Thoburn Elementary principal Frank Harbert.

Frank Harbert’s son is Duane Harbert, Class of 1951, who lives in Marlton, New Jersey with wife Mary. Duane and Mary’s sons are James, David and the late Tom Harbert, who passed away in 2014. Duane’s mother, Goldie Harbert, taught at Worthington Grade School. Jimmy and wife Diane live in Taylor, Pennsylvania. David and wife Margie live in Stratford, New Jersey.

Wedding fun for Sandy Cook

 Sandy Weils Shaffer Cook, Class of 1959, is back home in Fort Myers Beach, Florida after watching her granddaughter, Samantha Michelle Huffman, and Christopher marry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Writes Sandy:

“It was a wonderful week-end with family and friends. It is so rare that we are able to be together so it was very special. What made it even more special was to have added a new member to our family ... Christopher is a wonderful addition!!! We are all so pleased to have him.”

Carrs’ granddaughter weds

Linda Nobel-Carr, Class of 1967, and husband Sanford Carr enjoyed the wedding of their granddaughter, Teala Carr Jesseman, to David Jesseman.

Toni Carr Posten, Linda’s daughter, also was in the wedding party. Tonia, North Marion Class of 1989, and Bill Posten, a Monongah boy who also is a North Marion grad, have been married 16 years.

Sanford Carr is the kind of guy who goes around Monongah cleaning up dilapidated property for to be a good person. Linda and Sanford have been married for 46 years. When he and Linda aren’t dealing with their health problems, that is.

Linda worked at Philips (1968-89).

Stan Brzuzy’s daughter Karla to wed

Fairmont East and Fairmont State graduate and FirstEnergy contractor Karla Brzuzy, daughter of the late Monongah native Stanley “Spud” Brzuzy, on Friday, April 24 will wed James D. Trotto.

Edwina Trotto, Jim’s mom, writes:

“We love you and Jamie and wish you years of marital bliss. Love, Mom and Dad.”

Karla's sister is Kristie Brzuzy Solheim, living in Fairmont with husband Brent Solheim.

There were 9 children in the family of Wladyslaw “Walter” and Stephania Zuzak Brzuzy, who immigrated through Ellis Island, New York, to run the PNA Tavern across U.S. 19 from Thoburn School.

They are Walter Brzuzy, Class of 1950;  Freda Brzuzy Rogers, Class of 1945; John Brzuzy of Richmond, Indiana; Stephen Brzuzy of Grassy Run, Fairmont; Edith Brzuzy Bland; Laura Brzuzy Yereb; Chester Brzuzy; and Edwin Brzuzy. Stan passed away last April 26.

Stan is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sue Strawderman Brzuzy. They have nine grandchildren. Stan retired from Lucent Technologies/AT&T after 34 years. 

Walter, an excellent baseball pitcher and basketball shooter from today’s 3-point range despite the lower Monongah High gym ceiling, ran the PNA for his dad in later years.

Walter passed away in 1986 in Monaca, Pennsylvania, where he lived for 30 years and coached the Monaca American Legion baseball team. He retired from Jones & Laughlin Steel’s blast furnace department.

Walter and wife Ruth Ann Butcher Brzuzy had a son and two daughters.

When the Brzuzy family moved from Monongah to Country Club Road in Fairmont, John became a star football and basketball player for Fairmont West. Even in Richmond, Indiana John was deeply involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs.

John was the passing leader for Fairmont State in 1953 and 1954 as the Falcons’ quarterback.  He was the total offense and scoring leader in 1954. In 1953 he threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Nick Moreman, former Fairmont East High star, against Salem College.

His other claims to fame were that he took the two-hole punishment paddle away from a nun at Sts. Peter and Paul School and ran away and that, when a baseball hit him in the head on the playground, it changed directions 90 degrees and flew onto Church Street and then bounced into the hollow. That meant an extended recess while we went to look for the poor baseball. And it was my introduction to the term, “hard-headed Pollock.”

Stephen’s wife, Eva Blanche “Banny” Hostutler Brzuzy, passed away in 2010.