Obituary of Mona Moreland

Mona Elizabeth Moreland (nee James) On the morning of Wednesday, July 17, 2013, Mona passed away after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was being comforted and visited by family members and Hospice of Dayton at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation in Lebanon, Ohio. Mona was 77 years old. Mona was born in Hamilton, Ohio on March 22, 1936. She was the fifth child and third daughter of Minnie Gertrude Webster and Orin Henry Leigh James and the granddaughter of Jesse Thomas James, Anna Elizabeth Stahlheber, Henry Freeborn Webster and Minnie Clementine Zimmerman. Mona grew up on the James family farm at 4311 Tylersville Rd. in Hamilton, Ohio. She was raised in the Lutheran tradition and sang in the church choir. She participated in cheerleading and was an FFA Queen at West Chester High School. She was the Salutatorian of her class and graduated from West Chester High School on May 30, 1954. Mona's first job was as a secretary at Herring-Hall-Marvin Safe Co. in Hamilton, Ohio. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for over 30 years for Walker Insurance Agency and Parsons Insurance Agency in Mason, Ohio. Mona married her childhood sweetheart, James Yancey Moreland, on the afternoon of February 23, 1956 at the courthouse in Lawrenceburg, Indiana with her mother and father in attendance. Mona and Jim raised five children together and lived in Mason, Ohio until retirement. Mona was a member of the Mason United Methodist Church. She loved to collect antiques, quilt, shop, swim, cook Sunday dinners for the whole family, travel, write rhymes, sing and dance in the kitchen with Jim. Upon her retirement, Mona purchased a hunting cabin on a tree farm in Pike County, Ohio with her husband. She often said that it was one of her favorite places and described it as "a paradise." Family and friends fondly recall all of the wonderful visits and the October reunions that Mona and Jim hosted at the Moreland Tree Farm. Her favorite saying was "Live each day as it comes" and is based on her understanding of Psalm 118:24. In her later years, she expressed a strong desire to help feed the hungry and was a frequent donor to her local food pantry. Mona was preceded in death by: her husband, James Yancey Moreland; her parents, Orin Henry Leigh James, and Minnie Gertrude Webster; and her two siblings, Dana Robert James and Margaret Mae Worth. Mona is survived by: her three siblings, Patricia Ann Senour, Orin Hugh James, and Fern Lee Hinkle; her five children and their spouses, Lisa Ann Shutts, Clifford Earl Shutts, Sandra Lou Robinson, Jeffrey Dale Moreland, Eleanor Moreland, Keith Orin Moreland, Amy Beth Cunningham and Thomas Anthony Cunningham; her fourteen grandchildren and their spouses, Jarimia Joseph Shutts, Amanda Lynn Witt Shutts, Michael James Shutts, Derek Paul Shutts, Sara Elizabeth Mckenzie, Wallace Darin Mckenzie I, Tammy Lynn Robinson, James Derek Yancey Moreland, Amber Marie Moreland, Jaclyn Sue Moreland, Zachary Alexander Moreland, Nikki Ally Moreland, Michelle Ann Moreland, Brittany Virginia Moreland, Tiffani Nicole Jones, Joshua Emmet Jones, Julianna Rose Moreland, Bridget McNealy Cunningham, and Kelly Elizabeth Cunningham; and her eight great-grandchildren, Dylan Gregory Shutts, Nathan Jacob Shutts, Leyland Bryce Shutts, Brianna Faith Mckenzie, Wallace Darin Mckenzie II, Hailey Marie Mckenzie, Alexander James Moreland, and Mason James Moreland. Toward the end of her life, and in the throes of Alzheimer's disease, she could still recite the Lord's Prayer and dance to the Elvis version of "Hound Dog." Upon her request, Mona was cremated. There will be a memorial service with family and friends on Saturday, July 27 at noon in Lebanon, Ohio at her eldest daughter's home where Mona's life will be honored with the loving memories, laughter and great recipes that she left behind. The family requests that anyone wishing to send flowers or a memorial, to please send such items in the form of a donation to Hospice of Dayton, Alzheimer's Association, or your local food bank.