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James 'Jim' E. Monson, age 73, of Oil City, died with family by his side Friday, October 20, 2023 at UPMC Northwest, in Seneca.
Born in Cleveland, OH, on March 10, 1950 Jim was the son to the late Wilfred E. and Mary Maude Spencer Monson.
He was a graduate of Shaker Heights High School. After high school, he attended Alliance College in Cambridge Springs. While living there, he owned and operated a pet store, Noah's Ark.
Jim was active in the Masonic Lodge Petrolia #363. He was a past Grand Master of Petrolia Lodge in 1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2013, and 2014. He held many other positions in the lodge including Master of Ceremonies.
Jim was the owner of Famoores Family Restaurant which he purchased in 1996. Throughout his years operating Famoore's he came to meet many regulars and employees whom he befriended.
Jim loved his vehicles and was always looking forward to new car models being delivered to the dealership so he could get the first look. He loved his grandchildren and any children in the family he could spoil with toys and treats. Jim loved holidays and cooking for his family and friends. In his earlier years Jim enjoyed the performing arts.
He is survived by his daughters, Christina Moffett and Deborah Graham and husband Ryan. His grandchildren Michael Moffett, Brentley Moffett, Justin Moffett, Dion May, Benjamin Monson, Averie Graham, Oaklyn Graham, Azriel Graham, Brandon Gessner, and Josh Cazille. Great-grandchildren, Wyatt Moffett, Celeste Moffett, Elijah Stromyer-Moffett, Charlotte Shriner, and Silas May.
Also surviving are his sisters, Ruth Belkin and husband Barry, Michelle Mehlburger and husband Lee, his nieces, Mary Mehlburger and Spencer Mehlburger-Barr, and cousins George Fillgrove and wife Carolynn, Victoria Smith, Corey Spencer, Scott Spencer, Kimberly Spencer, and an aunt Sally Spencer, and Jim's first wife's children, Nick Monson, Sarah Griffith, and Logan Griffith, and Jim's second wife Merrilee Monson and her daughter Jennifer Campbell.
Preceding Jim in death is his father, Wilfred and his mother, Mary, a grandson Tyler Thomas Crow, a cousin William Dennis "Jake" Smith, an aunt Helen Fillgrove, his first wife Penny Preuss whom remained a close friend, and a special employee and friend, Aaron McCracken.
As per Jim's request a private graveside service will be held by the family.
Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in Jim's name to the Masonic Lodge Petrolia 363, P.O. Box 901, Oil City, PA 16301.
Special thank you to Susie at UPMC Northwest for her attentiveness to Jim.
The Reinsel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, www.reinselfuneralhome.com
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Scott Hume
We all are meeting like this more and more often and I'm not used to it yet. There's no easy way around it because we're saying goodbye to friends or feeling the lost opportunity of classmates we knew too little. Both are sad. I knew Jim, but too little, I know now. But I like the posthumous hugs from classmates that follow every new notice. I like our class.
Suzanne Polisner (Eastman)
Ditto Scott. It is hard to process how many friends and classmates we have lost.
Gary Collins
I wish that social media had been available sooner. Of course, I would have had to used it, too. I'm not what marketers call an early adaptor. My thoughts refer to Jim' Monson’s memorial notice.
“Jim was the owner of Famoores Family Restaurant which he purchased in 1996. Throughout his years operating Famoore's he came to meet many regulars and employees whom he befriended.”
I took my young girls on a day trip to Oil City in 1998 or 1999. We visited the Oil City park and the Well Museum for the day. One high point was lunch at Farmoore’s. It was one of those “bonding days”. If I’d known that the owner was Shaker ’68 we could have said “Hi” and traded life stories. It would have fit the day and lit a little Shaker candle for both of us.
Scott, Suzanne, I share your feelings. The Shaker class of ’68 is an extraordinary group of people. Every loss is painful, every friendship strong.
Frank Pekoc
Jim was a Fernway classmate of mine, and my memories of him are mostly from those Fernway years - I don't much remember him from Jr High (maybe he went to Woodbury - I went to Byron) or Shaker High. We weren't close, but I always remember him as friendly, although he always seemed a little sad, too. I remember going to one of his birthday parties back then - I believe his family lived on Kenmore. I'm glad to see that he prospered in life, doing well with his restaurant and, most importantly, being a major part of a large, loving family. Well done, Jim.
Frank Pekoc
Milan Tiff
So true. Scott and Suzanne. My two sisters, two classes ( 69, 70 ) behind me, and brother, one class ( 67 ) ahead of me always said, Our class ( 68 ) was the class of all classes ( classmates ) in the history of Shaker.