Nancy Cowart Willis, Class of 1969, who was cafeteria manager at Monongah High School for 26 years, and Larry Willis celebrated their 48^th wedding anniversary. They live in Worthington.

Nancy worked for the Marion County Board of Education.

She is one of the Cowart sisters. Joyce Cowart Peck, Alma Cowart Allen, Class of 1963, and Carol Cowart Ensminger are the other sisters. Joyce, Class of 1966, lives in Palm Bay, Florida.

Their brothers are Duane Cowart and Warren Cowart, Class of 1967.

Linda Nottingham Willis, Class of 1964, was a majorette and class officer at Monongah High.

The monthly get-togethers in Worthington included David Willis, Class of 1961; Edward Burley, Class of 1962, widower of Katherine Ely Burley; Roy “Jaybird” Murphy, Class of 1966; Joe McCullough, Class of 1962; Clifford Morgan, Class of 1961; Harold Maze, Class of 1961; Wilbur Smith, Class of 1960; and Howard Shuttlesworth Jr., Class of 1972.

Fairmont, Berkeley, Jefferson in AMC’s ‘American West’

Prickett’s Fort State Park in Fairmont will be in American Movie Classics cable channel’s “The American West,” an 8-part series that will premiere at 10 p.m. Sunday, June 11. Berkeley and Jefferson counties also will be featured in the series covering 1865 to 1890 to show how, in the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States transforms into the “land of opportunity.”

It will also chronicle the personal, little-known stories of Western legends such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. There are interviews with stars of Western films, including Robert Redford, James Caan, Burt Reynolds, Tom Selleck, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Harmon and Ed Harris.

The series is produced by Redford and Laura Michalchyshyn through their Sundance Productions, and Emmy Award-winning producer Stephen David of Stephen David Entertainment. David has filmed five other miniseries in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle: “NASCAR: The Rise of American Speed” for CMT; “The Men Who Built America” for History Channel; “The World Wars” for History Channels; “American Genius” for National Geographic; and “The Making of the Mob: New York” for AMC Networks.

Bob Yanero passes away

Robert Lee "Bob" Yanero, age 81, of Riverview Avenue, Monongah, passed away at his home Tuesday, June 6. His wife was the late Mary Teresa Livington Yanero. His parents were Albert and Ester Coleman Yanero.

Robert Yanero

He is survived by three children, George, Timothy "Timmy" and Regina. Private services will be held at Carpenter and Ford Funeral Home.

Bob’s brother, Roger Fay Yanero, a licensed small-planes pilot, passed away in 2014. Roger’s daughter, Patricia Yanero Herron, lives in Monongah. Roger’s widow is Elizabeth Stahl Yanero of Fairmont.  Their other children are Roger Fay Yanero Jr. and his wife Joslyn of Barrackville, Patricia Herron and her husband Kevin of Monongah and Betty Phillips and her husband Geoff of Fairmont.

Bob’s other brothers are Eugene Yanero and the late Edward “Eddie” Yanero.

Yaneros show up as Monongah High graduates from 1939 through 1977, which is two years before Monongah High consolidated into North Marion High.

Bob’s obituary:

Robert Yanero

·         BORN: April 16, 1936

·         DIED: June 6, 2017

·         LOCATION: Monongah, West Virginia

Robert Lee Yanero, 81 of Monongah passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at his home. He was born in Monongah on April 16, 1936 a son of the late Albert and Esther Coleman Yanero.

He proudly served his country for 16 years in the United States Army National Guard. He had worked as a coal miner for Grant Town Federal Number 1.

He enjoyed gardening and time spent with family.

He is survived by two sons George Yanero and his wife Frondria of Fairmont and Timothy "Tim" Yanero of Monongah and one daughter Regina Dotts of Monongah; one brother Albert Eugene Yanero and his wife Betty of Monongah and one sister-in-law Elizabeth Yanero.

In additional to his parents he was preceded in death by his loving wife Mary Teresa Livingston Yanero; two brothers Roger Yanero and Eddie Yanero; and one son-in-law Joseph Dotts.

In keeping the family’s wishes all services will be private.

Duane Cochran’s mom passes away

Dolores Marie “Dolly” Cochran, mother of Monongah’s Duane Cochran, a 1982 North Marion grad, passed away Monday, June 5.

Duane is married to Monica Shelosky Cochran, a Saints Peter and Paul School grad who went to Monongah High before her 1982 graduation from North Marion and later Fairmont State. Their children are Haley Cochran and Quint Cochran. Monica and Greg Shelosky are the children of Tom Shelosky, son of Julia Lazorick Shelosky and the late Stanley “Strob” Shelosky.

Duane’s father is Gerald Cochran. Donna Cochran Williamson of Altoona, Pennsylvania is Dolly and Gerald’s daughter.

Dolly’s obituary:

Dolores (Dolly) Marie Cochran, 79, of Monongah died Monday, June 5, 2017 at St. Barbara's Memorial Nursing Home. She was born August 8, 1937 in Jeannette, Pa., daughter of the late Glen D. and Angeline (Ang) L. Lewis. She was a 1955 graduate of Jeannette High School and worked at Westmoreland Glass Company before spending much of her life as a homemaker.

Dolly enjoyed baking, eating out, sending cards, camping and square dancing. She was one of the founding members of the Right Hand Stars square dance club in Fairmont, WV back in the 1970s.

Dolly was a member of the Monumental Methodist Church, the Monumental Methodist Women's Club and the Monumental Homemakers.

Dolly is survived by one daughter and son-in-law Donna and Howard Williamson of Altoona, Pa., a son and daughter-in-law Duane and Monica Cochran of Monongah and two beloved grandchildren Quint and Haley Cochran. Also surviving is one brother G. Edward Lewis of Santa Fe, NM. The family would like to thank the staff of St. Barbara's Memorial Nursing Home for their outstanding care of Dolly the past seven years.

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Ave. Fairmont, on Wednesday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Monumental Cemetery in Monumental. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com.

Faces in the best MHS Reunion crowd in 7 years

These are the people who were part of the largest Monongah High Alumni Reunion crowd in 7 years: 210.

John Defzio, in the honor Class of 1967, came from Stephenville, Texas. Joetta Martino Bowie, also Class of 1967, came from Spring, Texas. Chris Shamrock Hennig, Class of 1969, came from Abilene, Texas. Brenda Edmonds, also Class of 1967, came from Cory, Colorado. Mark Fabian, Class of 1967, came from Atlanta, Georgia.

The 1967 roster at the Reunion:

State Senator Roman Prezioso of Fairmont
Joetta (Martino) Bowie                                         
Chris (Shamrock) Hennig                                
Janice Hoffman of Salem, Virginia                 
Gary and Sherry Nichols of Fairmont            
Don Ford of Rockingham, Virginia
Sharon (Garrett) Sokolosky
John DeFazio
Mark Fabian
Dennis & Pam (Morrison) Bombardiere of Monongah       
John Larry                                                           Brenda (Shumate) Edmonds                             
Monica (Porter) Craddock                                 
Bill & Phyllis (Wilson) Ellison of Elizabethtown, Kentucky                             
Susie Blocker of Fairmont
Sandy (Thompson) Barton                                 David  Lee
Rocky Glover of Abimdon, Virginia                          Martha (Holt) Amos of Fairmont                    
Helen (Shingleton) Hamilton of Clarksburg           Mickey (Salai) Satterfield
Linda (Knobel) Carr
Sheila  Haun
Bob Davis

This may be the largest honor class turnout in decades, at least 27.

Class of 1957 did great, too. Bill Meredith reports that 19 showed up and, with mates, had about 35 there.
 

Gladius Hardaway, Class of 1957, came from Ocala, Florida.

John and Linda Larry came from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

Lenora Wright Moore, Class of 1962, came from Raleigh, North Carolina. So did John Wood.

Lloyd Schell, Class of 1957, came from Pompano Beach, Florida.

Jimmie Swiger, Class of 1961, came from California.

Sue Greynolds Davidson, Class of 1955, passed away three days after attending the 2017 Reunion. She attended regularly, often dancing with Joseph Junior “Beansie” Elutrio of Baltimore, Maryland.

Sue was the widow of Melvin “Whitie” Davidson, Class of 1954. They lived in Fairmont.

Bad trip for Kitty

Mary “Kitty” Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, who lives on Lyndon Avenue in Monongah and is Monongah High’s traveling lady, took a trip she wished she could have avoided.

Kitty Morrison

Let Kitty tell you:

“Well, I decided to take a trip this morning. Not a pleasant one. I tripped on a rug going into the Dollar General at Worthington and landed on the floor with face and shoulder up against the buggies and knee bent under me. Busted my lip so got emotional seeing blood.

“Went to ER by squad and was checked out. Will be sore and bruised for a few days but nothing broken. Shoulder is sprained and have a sling but it should be OK.

“Thank you, Worthington and Marion County Rescue squads. I think I will just relax and mend on a float today with sunscreen.”

Flying through the air at Dollar General is a far cry from flying to Key West, New York City, Myrtle Beach and Mexico and a variety of others on Kitty’s places-visited list.

Danny Manzo, Class of 1957, and Fairmont East grad Brenda Manzo are celebrating their 54^th wedding anniversary.

Who knew that a Lion and a Bee could get along so well for more than a half-century?

Brenda is busy with the Bees hive, organizing reunions of Fairmont East alumni.

 Brenda and Danny have lived in Monongah since 1967.

 Danny was on the 1955 Monongah High state champ football team and was co-captain with Joe Meffe of the 1956 Monongah High state football title game runnerup team.

 

Lisa Jacobin Manzo, 1986 North Marion grad, and Kristen Manzo, who forms the Thistle & Tweed folk duo with Patrick Blood that performed at the 2014 Monongahfest, are in Brenda and Danny’s family.

M&Ms have been sprinkled throughout history.

As in Monongah and Manzo.

There has been a Manzo at Monongah High in at least four decades -- from 1935 through 1949 and 1969 through 1978 (the year before the final 1979 MHS graduation class that preceded the consolidation into North Marion High).

Ron Manzo, Class of 1969, and his wife, Fairview High’s Janice Manzo, will celebrate their 43^rd wedding anniversary June 23, which is Ron’s birthday.

Ron is a coal miner; Janice is a physical therapist. Ron’s sister is Debra Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973, married to Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975.

Ron's uncles are Ernie “Frog”, Joe, John “Duke” Manzo, Class of 1945; and Raymond “Pigeon” Manzo, Class of 1947.

 

Then there’s

 Phyllis Manzo Berardo, Class of 1935.

 Genevieve Manzo Lopez, Class of 1937.

 Mike Manzo, Class of 1941, on the 1948 world champ coal-loading crew at Monongah Mine No. 63 which loaded 1,536 tons on one shift.

 

Patsy Manzo, Class of 1942.

 Helen Manzo Raspa, Class of 1945.

 Mary Manzo Tiburzi, Class of 1949.

 Nancy Manzo Bolyard, Class of 1970.

 Pat Manzo, Class of 1973.

 Karen Manzo Tennant, Class of 1974.

 Lisa Myers Manzo, Class of 1977.

 Tina Manzo Prodanovich, Class of 1977.

Jim Manzo, Class of 1978.

 And, at North Marion, Kim Sapp Manzo, 1980 grad (after 3 years at Monongah High).