Monongah High Lions

  Leatrice Yokay Greaser in Tygart Center for rehab   Leatrice Yokay Greaser, Class of 1950, is rehabbing at Tygart Center at Fairmont Campus, 1539 Country Club Road in Fairmont, not far from Fairmont Field Club golf course where I caddied for a decade in my youth. She’s in room 304 if you want to call and wish her well. Phone (304) 534-6627 or (304) 366-9100. Lea seemed in decent spirits when she phoned me today. Leatrice and her singing at Monongah High was fabulous. She even had a radio show, with Mary Jo Forte as her pianist, on WMMN radio in Fairmont. I still call Leatrice “The Kathryn Grayson of Monongah High” because Lea’s singing voice at MHS reminded me of the singing actress in movies. Her brother, John Yokay, Jr., passed away in January 2022. Their sister, Patty Yokay Maddox, Class of 1948, passed away in 2020. Leatrice and Patty Urban Utz, also Class of 1950, phone each other regularly.

  Gary Anderson is 'doing well'   Gary Anderson, married for 52 years to Rebecca Urish Anderson, Class of 1971, who was reported having health problems, is "doing very well," his daughter, Melissa Mcgahan reports. "Thanks for thinking of him."  Gary and Rebecc  live in Clarksburg. Rebecca works at Food Lion.    Miki Anderson-Fluharty lives in Martinsburg with husband Shawn Fluharty.   Debbie Urish Carpenter and Cindy Urish are Rebecca’s sisters.     Rebecca and Gary got around, too. There are photos of them in Bar Harbor, Maine and in Massachusetts.   Becky and the Angel of Thomas Street, Susan Staron Sanders, have been friends since first grade. Susan is the lady who lights up Monongah every Christmas with large holiday lights including the pearl in a seashell across the street from my Church Street childhood home.   Gary and Rebecca missed the 100 th Monongah High Banquet in 2023 because they were cam...

John Prunty, Jr. passes away Debbie Prunty Poluck, Class of 1973, posted this sad news about her father, John Prunter, Jr.: "My hero, my father, passed away." Obituary of John Prunty Jr. John Prunty, Jr., 92, of Mill Fall Passed away peacefully Friday, January 19, 2024 at Louis A. Johnson Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV. He was born October 14, 1931 in Everson West Virginia, the son of the late John Prunty, Sr. and Thelma (Saunders) Prunty. He was the husband of Margie Lee Jones Prunty, his best friend and love of his life. They were married November 26, 1960 at Everson Baptist Church. They were happily married for 63 years. John was a proud, strong, and independent man who dedicated his life to his wife and children. He was a Baptist by faith and attended Monongah High School. He volunteered to serve his country in 1951 and was a corporal in the US Army under the 45th Combat Infantry Division 279 during the Korean War. He was very proud of his military involvement and his...

  Jay Holman survives son's passing & respiratory attack Jay Holman, Class of 1971, tells a fascinating story of dealing with the passing of his son, Michael, and weathered the infection terror that strikes fear into all of us: “John, I finally turned corner a couple of days ago. Cousin Murphy came by after (son) Michael’s funeral and I felt bad, had all the signs -- eyes red, cough, chills, lost taste -- took the test and under 5 minutes popped up positive about 2-3 days later. “Margaret got it. I can not take Paxlovid due to my underlying condition kidney. Doctor said it would do more damage than good so I had to ride it out. “I was fortunate that I had all my shots plus flu. I am thankful that I am ready to transition to the other side 3 days later. “Margaret also was positive but we are both doing well and on the mend. “I would like to thank Sue (Sanders) for checking on me. As I have said before without a doubt the Class of 1971 is hard to beat. I was truly fortunate to sp...

  One of many Monongah Joe DeMarys has cancer   Monongah native Joe DeMary has cancer, his sister, Joanne DeMary, reports.   This Joe DeMary – and there are MANY DeMarys in Monongah and Monongah High history – lives in Tennessee.   Joanne lives in Ooltewah, Tennessee, attended Monongah High and North Marion High after MHS closed and merged into North Marion with other Marion County high schools. And was in Red Bank school in Tennessee in 1980-82 after leaving Marion County.   Joanne is retired from the Army.   The DeMary family has been in Monongah and attend Monongah High for decades.   Another Joe DeMary spent much of his life in Monongah and was a retired Loveridge Mine coal miner before he passed away in Rivesville, where there’s a DeMary’s Market on you way into that town, in 2007. Coal miner Joe’s father, also Joe DeMary, was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Monongah, which replaced the Polish St. Stanislau...

                  ANTHONY AND JESSICA ON RIGHT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS                      JESSICA  WITH ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER Anthony Brumage facing long hospital stay   Anthony Brumage was hospitalized with Flu A, pneumonia and hypoxic respiratory failure. Then he went septic and cultures revealed an abcess in his left lung. His oxygen and temperature are monitored throughout the day. Anthony will visit a primary care doctor weekly for lab work and faces additional testing and infectious disease & pulmonary appointments. He is on UNPAID medical leave. Wife Jessica Yankee Brumage’s self-employment income, she said, “has taken a hit”” because “I’m busy caring for him and making sure everything else is cared for. My #1 priority is his care. “We just want to see him fully recovered and everything back to normal.” Check Shelly Yankie’s Facebook page – Jessica’s mot...

                      LEATRICE YOKAY WITH JOHN OLESKY Leatrice Yokay Greaser hospitalized with covid   Leatrice Yokay Greaser, Class of 1950, is in a Fairmont hospital. She got covid. Julie Ankrom, after talking to Leatrice’s nephews John and Stephen Yokay, and tells me “they say Leatrice probably will be moved to Tygart Center nursing care today, one of two facilities in Fairmont (1539 Country Club Road). “She had covid. Hopefully, she is recovering now. “My Mom (Mary Ann Carbone Ankrom) is going to talk to Steven and we will keep you informed of any news we get. “By the way, my father James Ankrom worked as a typesetter at the Fairmont Times-West Virginian. He passed away in 2009 while living in Normantown, West Virginia (which is on U.S. Route 33 southwest of Glenville).” If you want to send Leatrice a get-well card, it would be: Leatrice Greaser Tygart Center 159 Country Club Road Fairmont, WV 26554 Julie sa...

             LEATRICE AND LATE HUSBAND BOB GREASER       IN OTHER PHOTO SONNY AND SATCH BOTH HAVE PASSED AWAY AND TONY EATES STILL LIVES IN FAIRMONT WITH WIFE LUCY ALTHOUGH TONY IS DEALING WITH DIFFICULT HEALTH ISSUES Leatrice Yokay Greaser “ill and being taken care of”   Jen, daughter of Patrica Urban Utz, Class of 1950, tipped me off about Leatrice Yokay Greaser’s health situation. Jen posted to me: “ I know Lea had a few people dropping in, but Mom realized she doesn’t have any contact info. “Mom connected with someone. Lea is ill and being taken care of. “Mom is not in touch with Lea or whoever it taking care of her.” Patricia Urban Utz’ children are rotating time with Patty, who still lives in Springfield, New Jersey, not far from the Naval Academy where Patty and husband John Stephen Utz first met each other at a Navy Academy exchange weekend designed to get Navy Academy and West Point people of both gende...

    MIKE PREOLITTI AFTER KNEE SURGERY AND WALKING AN HOUR LATER!!!                      MIKE PREOLITTI WITH WIFE IRENE FAZIO PREOLITTI   Mike Preolitti walking HOUR after knee replacement surgery! Mike Preolitti, Class of 1962, had his knee replaced, as I have had, and walking an hour after the surgery.   It took me 2 to 4 weeks to do that.   Irene Fazio Preolitti, Class of 1966, my cousin because her father was the amazing Renzy Fazio, Class of 1937, and my dad’s sister was Renzy’s wife, Frances Olesky Fazio, also Class of 1937.   Irene’s siblings are Steve Fazio, Class of 1975; Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, Class of 1969; Dave Fazio, Class of 1968.   Mike and Irene’s children include Pittsburgh Half-Marathon runner Monica Jo Preolitti and   Ann Marie Cochran, whose daughters are Rhyan and Renzy (yes, for her grandfather).  

  Mary Lou Retton home from hospital   Mary Lou Retton’s daughter told the world that her mother is home from the hospital after battling to stay alive for weeks.   McKenna Kelley said: “Mom is HOME & in recovery mode. We still have a long road of recover ahead up, but baby steps.”

  Kitty Morrison’s cousin survived brain surgery   K itty Morrison posted: Please keep my cousin Henry Ahouse in your prayers, he was taken to Ruby last night with a brain bleed and he will be having surgery today. AFTER THE SURGERY, KITTY POSTED:   Henry from Doddridge county. Dad’s side of family, Joyce’s brother. Lived in West Union but has been living with his son and family outside of Salem for a while.   He has had several medical issues but is a fighter. He is doing very well from brain surgery. In regular room and out of ICU. Called me earlier and seems chipper as always.

  Mary Lou Retton ‘fighting for her life’   Mary Lou Retton, who went from Fairmont to Olympic glory in gymnastics, is “fighting for her life” and unable to breathe on her own in intensive care in a Texas hospital. At the age of 55!!! Pneumonia is the culprit. A fund-raising drive byMary Lou Retton's daughter, who said her mom didn't have insurance, had a goal of $50,000. So far, $175,000 has been raised and the numbers keeps going higher and higher!!! Mary Lou was 16 when she dazzled the world at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles when she landed on her feet with a perfect 10 off the vault to win the individual all-around gold medal 5 WEEKS AFTER KNEE SURGERY!!! Mary Lou had FIVE medals in 1984, including in floor exercise and uneven parallel bars. Mary Lou has 4 children. Mary Lou Retton Drive in Fairmont, where she lived, was renamed to honor her.

  Dave Willis released from hospital Dave Willis, Class of 1961, husband of Linda Willis, Class of 1964, is home after 34 days in the hospital. Linda reports: “He is doing much better and so glad to be home! Thank you for caring and sharing.” Dave had urinary tract infections. Dave and Linda attended the 2021 annual Monongah High Alumni Banquet. They live in Worthington as Linda did while attending Monongah High.   Linda’s parents are Virginia Minardi Nottingham and Russell J. Nottingham. Linda, who worked for State Farm Insurance after being a majorette and class officer at Monongah High, married Dave in 1965. Linda’s brother,  John Tommy Nottingham, Class of 1968, married Victoria Blocker Nottingham, Class of 1969. Linda and Dave’s sons are Shawn Willis, who married the late Melissa Feathers Willis, and Kevin Willis, married to Christa Willis. Grandsons are Kyler, Bryson and Camden.

                      LINDA AND DAVE WILLIS WITH 2 SONS           DAVE AND LINDA WILLIS' SONS Dave Willis hospitalized   Dave Willis, Class of 1961, husband of Linda Willis, Class of 1964, has been hospitalized with “a couple of UTI’s (Urinary Tract Infections) causing confusion and he is weak but I can see improvement daily,” Linda posts. Later I was told that Dave got covid. But Linda says "Dave is doing much better" in recent days. Dave and Linda attended the 2021 annual Monongah High Alumni Banquet. They live in Worthington as Linda did while attending Monongah High. Linda’s parents are Virginia Minardi Nottingham and Russell J. Nottingham. Linda, who worked for State Farm Insurance after being a majorette and class officer at Monongah High, married Dave in 1965. Linda’s brother,  John Tommy Nottingham, Class of 1968, married Victoria Blocker Nottingham, Class of 1969. Linda worked at State...