Fred Gerald DeMotto Sr., 84, a resident of Coalton, departed this life at 4 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26, 2002, at his residence. He had been in declining health for the past year and death was attributed to cancer.
He was born on June 11, 1918, at Coalton, a son of the late Andrew DeMotto and Ameilia Mastroguiseppe DeMotto.
He was twice married. First, he married the former Mary Elizabeth Kemp, who preceded him in death in 1978.
On May 21, 1983, he was married to the former Eleanor Currence, who survives at Coalton.
Also surviving are two sons, Fred “Jerry” DeMotto Jr., Beverly, and John Vincent DeMotto, Coalton; two daughters, Janet Faye Whitehead and husband, Tom, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Mary “Jean” Brown and husband, Ed, Atlanta, Ga.; one stepdaughter, Elaine Brumfield and husband, Rufus, Severn, Md.; two brothers, Andy DeMotto and Tony DeMotto and wife, Jessie, all of Coalton; one sister, Helen Rossi, Coalton; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Joe, Jimmy, Sunday and Carlo; one infant brother, two sisters, Minnie Vince and Amelia Reily; and an infant grandson, Christopher.
He attended the schools of Coalton, was a coal miner for more than 60 years and was the co-owner, former vice president and at the time of his death was president of the DeMott-peerless Coal Co. at Pickens. He was a member of the Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church at Coalton and attended the Kynette United Methodist Church at Norton. He was well known for his expertise in gardening and was an avid outdoorsman.
Friends will be received at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Wednesday at 7 p.m. from the funeral home chapel a prayer service will be recited by the Rev. Father William Anderson. Final rites will be conducted on Thursday at 11 a.m. from the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Anderson and the Rev. Mary Ann Corley officiating. Interment will follow in Saint Brendan Cemetery at Elkins.
