John Lewis Rogers

John Lewis Rogers, of Groesbeck, passed away Monday, April 6, 2015 at Windsor Healthcare Residence, with his sons by his side, at age 87. Visitation will be Thursday, April 9, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 10, 2015 at the Church of Christ in Groesbeck, with Brother Richard Williams of Groesbeck and Brother Lonnie Ritchie of the Magnolia Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow in Faulkenberry Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Justin Rogers, Kevin Rogers, and Chase Rogers; son-in-law, Mike Schneider; and grandson-in-laws, Todd Williamson and Michael Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be the elders and deacons of the Church of Christ of Groesbeck: B. K. Stone, Ken Neyland, Tommy Middlebrook, John Billingsley, Rand Bates, Dale Wilson, and Don Brewer. John was born September 18, 1927 in Freeport to Moody Rogers and Ruby Elizabeth Climer Rogers. He grew up in Ben Hur with grandparents and graduated from Groesbeck High School. John was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Airborne as a paratrooper from 1945 to 1947. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan where many of his jumps were made. John was united in marriage with Jo Anabel Ford on January 8, 1949 in Groesbeck. He graduated from the University of Houston in 1951. John was hired prior to graduation by Stanoline Oil and Gas Company, who in 1957 changed their name to Pan American Petroleum Corporation and in 1975 changed their name to Amoco Corporation. He retired in 1984 after working for Amoco for 33-1/2 years in the finance department. John also worked privately in accounting and tax preparation for farmers and ranchers for many years in Cypress and Groesbeck. John and Anabel made their home in Cypress where they raised their children. He was always able to provide the family’s needs, and built a new home in Cypress in July 1962. He was resourceful and frugal, and tried to make things work with what he had. Fond memories include the annual vacation in the family station wagon to Lake Buchanan where John loved to fish. John was a member of the Cy-Fair Lions Club in Houston for ten years and a member of the Champions Church of Christ in Houston, where he served as a deacon and an elder. After John and Anabel had both retired, they moved to Groesbeck, living with her mother, Eddie Ford while building their retirement home. John with son Stanton had a few cows to tend, while Anabel loved gardening and raising flowers. He remained adventurous and loved flying. He enjoyed riding over Groesbeck in David Hugh’s para-glider, and in his seventies, tried to ski again on Mammoth Mountain in Northern California (having last skied in Japan in 1946). And his frugal nature continued, never throwing anything away, knowing he “might need it or could find a way to use it.” John was an active member of the Groesbeck Lions Club, serving as Treasurer for years, and served as an elder at the Church of Christ of Groesbeck, where he was an active member. He had resided at Windsor Healthcare for the past couple of years. John was preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother, Lerline Rogers (age 100 plus); brother, Charles Moody Rogers and his wife Bobbie Rogers; and his sister, Betty and her husband R. A. McKenzie; and his wife of 52 years, Anabel Rogers. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie Ann and Michael David Schneider of Cheyenne, Wyoming; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen Lewis and Karen Coe Rogers of Cypress; and son and daughter-in-law, Stanton Larue and Phyllis Lowery Rogers of Normangee; grandchildren, Monica Schneider Huntington and Robert (Bob) Huntington of Cheyenne, WY; Jessica Ann Schneider of Laramie, WY; Elizabeth “Nicole” Miller and husband Michael Miller of College Station; Katherine Paige “Katie” Williamson and husband Todd Williamson of Cypress; Stephen Chase Rogers of San Marcos; Justin Adam Rogers of Normangee; and Kevin Michael Rogers and wife Keeli Rogers of North Zulch; and great grandchildren, Colby Williamson, Addison Williamson, Brock Huntington, and Micaela Huntington; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jim and Dell Ford of Bastrop. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made in memory of John Rogers to Texas Lions Camp, P. O. Box 290247, Kerrville, TX 78029.