John Monday

Paw-Paw, John W. Monday.

John W. Monday, the patriarch of our family, died November 18, 2021. Born June 30th, 1936 in Pine Island, Louisiana, he grew up in Vivian, Louisiana, on the Monday Family homestead on Boyter Lane. JW had many duties as a young man repairing miles of fencing, feeding the animals, and bringing crops into town.

A larger than life character. JW graduated from Vivian High School in Vivian, Louisiana, and played football in college at Kilgore, Texas.

He met the love of his life, Sadie Rae Cooper from Oak Ridge, Roatan, Honduras in New Orleans. Shortly after JW served in the Army working in intelligence and communications in New York City with his new bride. After returning to Louisiana, they raised three kids, John H. Monday, Mitzi Monday Glamuzina (Stanko), and Kelley L. Monday.

Much of his career was spent helping to develop oil fields around the towns of Venice and Morgan City, Louisiana. He served in roles from roughneck to manager and worked many years for Sooner Pipe, and retired from AZ Terminal, which led him to settle in Dayton, Texas, where he embraced the Texas culture.

Ever the sportsman and avid fisherman, he pursued game around the hemisphere. An expert marksman, he was past President of the Delta Gun Club in Buras, Louisiana. Much of JW’s social activities helped to further good causes, and he was a member of the Shriners.

Ever the storyteller, JW organized many large cookouts over the years for work, charity, and hurricane relief. Cooking for large groups was a favorite pastime during his working years and something that satisfied his constant desire to provide for people and entertain.

In retirement, JW enjoyed gardening and building on his farm boy roots he went back to school for horticulture. He maintained a productive vegetable garden, orange trees, and many other beautiful and exotic plants at his brick ranch house. JW shared his knowledge of the land, nature, and his love of fishing and being on the water with his grandson, Richie Blink.

Always adaptable, JW was quick to try new recipes and travel new places. He had many hobbies using his hands and talents painting, carving, and making many wooden models, jewelry, knives, fishing lures, and always seemed to be inventing gadgets and making innovative and pragmatic repairs reflective of his coming of age during the Great Depression on a homestead in North Louisiana.