Claude James Monlux

Claude James Monlux, 78, died on February 26 due to complications from a stroke. Claude, a resident of Chico, was born on January 18, 1943 in Berkeley to Armand and Edith Monlux. Claude grew up in Walnut Creek with his two brothers Steve and Guy and briefly attended Quincy High School before graduating from Las Lomas High School in 1961. Claude attended Chico State for both his Bachelors and Master's Degrees in Industrial Arts, earning his lifetime General Secondary Teaching credential, Designated Subjects credential, and Public Safety Education credential. Claude was well known in the community for teaching many young men and women how to drive and how to weld. Claude is survived by his wife Carrie, daughter Julie Forsythe (Bill), son Eric Monlux (Rose), Julie and Eric's mother Sonia Monlux, brother Steve Monlux (Carole), and brother Guy Monlux (Anne). Claude's extended family included six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Claude was a well-known and highly respected Ag Welding and Project Construction teacher and FFA Advisor at Chico High School. Throughout his 36 years in the classroom, Claude (Mr. Monlux) taught his students practical construction, computational, and organizational skills that led to immediate employment and successful careers. Claude believed that all students could be successful, he had an uncanny ability to motivate, and never allowed his students to quit. Claude was a master recruiter and was frequently heard asking students waiting on their friends in the Ag Shop "Why aren't you in my class?" Claude was well known for holding open shop on Wednesday nights where his students could come in to work additional hours on their welding projects for exhibit at the Silver Dollar Fair and Cal Expo State Fair. Claude's students routinely won Best of Show and numerous first place awards, and he took great pride whenever he saw his former students' projects in use around Chico (i.e., trailers). In addition to ag mechanics, Claude also taught math, woodshop, and Driver Training for many years. Many of Claude's students went on to college or trade schools to continue their education and have careers in engineering, farming and ranching, construction, equipment operation, plumbing, concrete and masonry, carpentry, and automotive mechanic. Many have continued his legacy becoming ag teachers or other high school educators. Claude's love of construction and welding fabrication expanded during his years working as an Operating Engineer, and did not stop upon retirement. He enjoyed creating projects with his lathe in his shop at home, running his D-2 Caterpillar tractor, and building roads and cutting firewood on his property in Quincy. Claude was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman, and successfully hunted deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, dove, and red stag in California, Colorado, Nevada, Alaska, British Columbia, and Patagonia Argentina with his son Eric, friends Cecil Ross and Jeff Otten, and wife Carrie. He also enjoyed traveling and panning and sluicing for gold in California, Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, and the Yukon, and in later years loved the warmth of the Big Island with Carrie. Claude was a fantastic husband, father, brother, grandfather, teacher, mentor, friend, and most of all a great role model; making a positive impact on thousands in our community. A memorial scholarship is being set up in Claude's name to help support Chico High FFA welding and agriculture students. If you wish to contribute, please make your check out to Chico High Foundation and include Claude Monlux Memorial in the memo line, and send to P.O. Box 1820, Chico, CA 95927. The family wishes to thank the incredible and caring staff at Enloe Hospital and Dr. Neng Huang, Claude's dedicated Parkinson's neurologist for 17 years. Arrangements are under the direction of Brusie Funeral Home. A graveside memorial will be held on Monday, March 8 at 2pm at Cana Pine Creek Cemetery.