Obituary of James Anthony Monarchy Sr.

James Anthony Monarchy Sr. (JB), age 77 of Beckley, WV and Palm Bay, FL, passed away at 8:54 PM on April 3, 2021 in the SICU at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, FL. after battling a long illness.

Born on the last Friday of March in 1944 during WWII, in Pemberton, WV to the late Frank and Nina Mae Monarchy, JB was the 2nd eldest child in a family of 7 siblings. JB was preceded in death by his parents, son, Michael Allen and brothers Charles Monarchy and Joseph Monarchy. JB was raised in Pemberton, a coal camp for Affinity Coal Mines, by his Italian Immigrant father and his young wife.

JB is survived by his wonderful wife of 57 years, Beulah Hedrick Monarchy of Beckley, WV and Palm Bay, FL. They met at the MacArthur Skating Rink in 1962, were married in November of 1963 and had two sons, James Anthony Jr. in 1964 and Michael Allen in 1965. They lost Michael to Meningitis that same year. He worshipped and loved her until his last breath.

He attended Pemberton Grade School and Sophia High School, studied at WV Tech, WVU and other schools and training facilities and was a multi-talented and disciplined man who worked in the coal mining industry, mining equipment industry as an engineer, fiber optics utility industry and dining and entertainment. He semi-retired to Florida in 1999 and in order to occupy his time, worked in the construction industry with his son Jim and later his own Handyman Business, BM Enterprises, that catered to the Real estate professionals. He was a 10 Year Secretary with the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Aerie 2377 in Beckley, WV and the club manager where he turned around a failing club and was able to build a 30,000 SF facility with a 2-story parking garage. He was industrious and ambitious and was not afraid to try anything, which was an attribute of his success in life. He was a US Army Veteran and a great American who was charitable and kind. He was one of the most hard-working individuals even into his later years where he would spend countless hours manicuring his property and lawn. He loved his WVU Mountaineers and would follow their football and basketball teams rarely missing the opportunity to watch a game. Those who knew him will remember him as a humorous man with a never-ending string of jokes, one-liners and quick wit. He was funny and fair, but he was one to stand up and fight for what was right, for his family and loved ones and his beliefs.

JB was survived by his loving and loyal wife of 57 years, Beulah of Beckley, WV and Palm Bay, FL, his only surviving son, James (Jimmy) and daughter-in-law Michelle, 2 grandchildren, Arianna Destiny and Christian Gabriel, all of Palm Bay, Eldest brother Robert and wife Victoria, of Beckley, WV, sisters Catherine Reynolds of Lynchburg, VA, Mary Taylor of Midway, WV and Nancy Tyree and husband Mason, of MacArthur, WV. He is also survived by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Trudy and John Dabbs of Charlotte, NC, John Hedrick Jr and his wife Jill of Crab Orchard, WV, and Bob Wiseman of Palm Bay, FL. Additionally, he is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Gene Schott and family of Charlotte, NC, Teresa Staton and great nephew Wyatt Cole of Crab Orchard who were like his daughter and grandson, Tammy Wheby and Family, Keri Darlington, Michelle Simms, Roger Reynolds, Teresa Reynolds, Mark Taylor, Michael Wiseman, Carla Wiseman, Kimmie Wiseman, John Hedrick III, Angela Messer and Josh Hedrick. He also leaves behind his fur babies Sophie and Romeo who he loved so much and they him.

His body is being prepared by Ammen Funeral Home in Palm Bay, FL where he will be cremated. No service is scheduled for Palm Bay, but a Memorial and Celebration of Life will be held in Beckley, WV at a later date and his cremains will be buried at the foot of his deceased son, Michael Allen, at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery, located in Anstead, WV. The service will be announced.

At this time, we ask that you not send flowers, but you can donate to his Memorial Fund to assist by contacting:

Brad Wartella at Pendleton Community Bank

204 Pinewood Dr, Beckley, WV 25801

(304) 252-2265

As I look back over time

I find myself wondering …..

Did I remember to thank you enough

For all you have done for us?

For all the times you were by our sides

To help and support us …..

To celebrate our successes

To understand our problems

And accept our defeats?

Or for teaching us by your example,

The value of hard work, good judgment,

Courage and integrity?

I wonder if I ever thanked you

For the sacrifices you made.

To let me have the very best?

And for the simple things

Like laughter, smiles and times we shared?

If I have forgotten to show my

Gratitude enough for all the things you did,

I’m thanking you now.

And I am hoping you knew all along,

How much you meant to us.

There is not much of a greater pain and emptiness than that which comes with losing a parent or a spouse. Until this day, I never knew. I could never imagine how it would feel to look at a funny photo of my dad and immediately start crying uncontrollably. I couldn’t imagine not being able to pick up the phone and hear him speak, or to say something so funny I just burst into laughter or to know if I needed advice or a helping hand doing something that I had someone that knew pretty much something about everything. When I think of you, I think brave, confident, hardworking, charming, funny, handsome, devoted, generous, loving, reliable and protective. Now my heart trembles with the realization that you have left this world and my faith is that we will meet again. I love you and miss you so terribly much, daddy. Your son, Jimmy