December 15, 1941 ~ March 7, 2022 (age 80)
Clarence Russell Rogers gained his wings to Heaven in the wee hours of the morning ~ March 7, 2022. Russ, or as those who knew him well, affectionately called him “Papa” was born on the 15th day of December, 1941 in Devol, Oklahoma. The little cottontop boy was the second son of Elmer (Buster) and Odoska Jane Rogers.
Russell leaves behind his wife of twenty years, Shirley, Hico, Texas. Daughter, Celena Weaver, and husband Jim of Calera, Oklahoma. Son, Rhett Rogers, and wife Tina of Calera, Oklahoma. Daughter, Andrea Mersiovsky, and husband Justin of Celina, Texas. Stepsons, Chance Webb of Anahuac, Texas. Wes Webb, and wife Jennifer of Spicewood, Texas.
Grandchildren: Kurtis Elmore, Jeffrey (Alyssa) Rogers, Riggin Rogers, Raylee Rogers, Colt Weaver, Ella Jayne Mersiovsky, Kerrigan (Brennen) Reznicek, Ryan Webb, Madison Webb, and soon to be, first great-grandson Noah Rogers.
Brothers, Elmer & Bob Rogers of Calera, Oklahoma. And special mention brother, Donald Ray Davis of Forney, TX. Numerous beloved family members including cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors from all over the world. He had loved ones in Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and anywhere he ever roamed – Russell never met a stranger!
Russell was a lifelong member of the Methodist faith. He graduated from Calera High School in 1958. While in high school, Russell was the FFA President from 1957-1959 and won numerous FFA awards. After high school, Russell attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University and worked at Green Spray grocery store and Potter’s Sausage.
He earned the Honorary State FFA Degree in 1974. This award is the highest grade that you can bestow on anybody in the Oklahoma FFA Association honoring individuals with outstanding service toward the advancement of the youth in FFA programs. He was the first in the State of Oklahoma to earn such an honor alongside his brother, Elmer.
Russell worked many jobs…a jack of all trades. Part time rodeo announcer, president of Durant Savings and Loan, owner of Triangle Tractor, building an airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, head of maintenance equipment while he worked to build a dam/lake and an underground tunnel, supervisor at World Wide Welding, and finally retiring from JV Industrial as quality control manager.
He served as President of the Durant Round Up Club and as the President of the Durant, Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce for numerous years – receiving the “Durant’s Outstanding Citizen Award” (Rotary Club) in 1973-74. He was a member of Kiwanis and was a Master Mason, earning his “Fifty Year Award” in 2014.
In 1999, he moved to Crosby, Texas and fell in love with two things – the community and Shirley Webb. He and Shirley married on November 22, 2001. Russell was a board member of the Crosby Fair and Rodeo Association from 2004, serving as the President until 2012. The Rock’n C Arena was his second home and he spent every spare moment supporting the youth and the fairgrounds.
In 2013, Russell and Shirley built their dream home in Hico, Texas, where they spent the remainder of his days. As always, he embraced the community and they did the same for him. He was proud of his “Rogers farm.” Taking care of the farm on his tractor, along with Hunter, his horse and dog, Molly were his dream. He loved to RV and traveled as far as Alaska and frequented Lake City, Colorado. If you ever spent any time with him, you’d hear about country music, westerns, and of course, rodeo.
Memorial service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, March 13 at the United Methodist Church in Stephenville, Texas. Graveside service will take place in coming weeks in Calera, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made to Crosby Fair & Rodeo P.O. Box 1546, Crosby, TX 77532 or to the Rose Hill Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 441, Calera, OK 74730, all in memory of Russell Rogers.
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