James Oscar "Pappy" Rogers

James Oscar “Pappy” Rogers, of Lake Limestone, passed away at home on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at age 83.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 16, 2024, at Mart Cemetery, with Gayland Rader and Clayton Elmore officiating. 

Pallbearers will be Tyrel McSpadden, Cory Rogers, Cody Rogers, Caleb Rogers, Justyn Rogers, Cooper Rogers and Jaxon Rogers. His great grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.

James, also called Jimmy in early life, was born September 17, 1940, to Jerry Jackson Rogers and Loney (Dennis) Rogers in Grand Saline, TX, with 4 siblings. Jimmy’s mother passed away when he was 16 months old, and he was adopted by his uncle and aunt, Ira and Bertha Rogers. They raised him and they were Mom and Pop to him all his life, and their daughter Jean was a sister to him.

Jimmy’s family lived several places while he was growing up, including California, but mostly in Hewitt. He was on the high school football team and graduated from Midway High School in the Class of 1959. 

Jimmy joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served for 6 years. It was while he was in the military that he became known as “Pappy”, since he was older than most of the guys, and that name has stuck with him all his life. 

James Oscar “Jimmy” Rogers and Tommie Lou Cooper were united in marriage on October 21, 1970, in Ada, Oklahoma. They met while Tommie was working in Waco in the office at Plantation Foods and he was a truck driver making deliveries. He began flirting with her and that led to their marriage of 53 years.

“Pappy” was a truck driver for C&E Transport, and Rodgers Trucking Co. for many years. He taught Tommie Lou (known as “Sweetie”) to also drive a truck and together they made a team for trips all over the United States. He would be tickled when he heard other truckers on the radio say, “did you see that tiny little lady climbing out of that Peter Built?”

Pappy and Tommie Lou lived in Bellmead for the longest part of their marriage and moved to Lake Limestone after her parents passed away, to take care of their property. He worked several more years in Groesbeck for Clayton Elmore’s Wrecking business and then for six years he worked at Nucor in the guardhouse, until he retired again at age 78.

He had enjoyed fishing when he was younger, and his greatest enjoyment in his later life was his grandbabies. Pappy never met a stranger, and he would “talk your head off.” He had struggled with multiple cancers the last few years of his life. 

James was preceded in death by his mother, Loney Rogers; his father, Jerry Rogers; Mom and Pop, Ira and Bertha Rogers; his sister, Jean Wilson; and his birth brother and sisters, Merle Rogers, Jerry “Buck” Rogers, Wanda Word, and Juanita Worley; and a granddaughter, Chelsea Rogers.

He is survived by his wife, Tommie Lou Rogers of Lake Limestone; son, Jimmy Lee Rogers and wife Tammy of Bellmead; son, James Raymond “Ray” Rogers and his girlfriend, Renee Snodgrass of Groesbeck; stepson, Larry McKinley of Bremond; stepdaughter, Margaret Skains and husband Danny of Bellmead; stepdaughter, Christine Rivers and husband Joe of Mart. He was also blessed with 15 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren.