Roy Rogers

Born on October 23, 1927, Roy Eugene Rogers was the son of Roy and Grace Harnett Rogers.  The Family made their home in Cross, Oklahoma until the death of his father in 1934.  The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl made it necessary for Roy and his three younger siblings to be placed in the Oklahoma Children’s Orphanage in Oklahoma City.  Their mother moved to Wichita, Kansas to work for Boeing, but visited the children in Oklahoma City as often as possible.  After several years the family was reunited in Ponca City.  Roy attended Ponca City Public Schools where he lettered in football and baseball.  He interrupted his high school education to join the Merchant Marines for a one-year deployment overseas.  When he returned, he re-entered Ponca City High School and graduated in 1947.

After high school graduation Roy went to work for Southwestern Bell in Ponca City.  During this time, he met and started dating Nancy Harvey.  Roy was drafted into the United States Army on September 25, 1950, and in 1951 received orders to serve overseas.   Roy and Nancy chose to marry before his deployment and on March 16, 1951, the couple married in Coffeyville, Kansas.

For the next 12 months he served as a communications specialist throughout Europe, particularly in Italy, Germany, and Belgium.  In 1952, Roy was honorably discharged from the army and returned to Ponca City to resume his employment with Southwestern Bell.

A few years later, Roy and Nancy moved with Southwestern Bell for a brief stay in McAlester, Oklahoma.  This is where their first child was born, Barbara Ann.  Next the couple moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and eventually back to Ponca City, where their son Stephen Robert was born.  In 1967 the family moved for the last time to Newkirk, Oklahoma.

After his retirement from Southwestern Bell, Roy started Rogers Telephone Service and worked until he was in his eighties.  Roy was very active in the community servicing as a city commissioner for over 25 years.  He volunteered for the Kay County Sherriff’s Reserve, Lions Club, the VFW, and many events over the years.  Roy and Nancy loved to travel, especially with friends and family.  Their adventures included Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii, and Europe.  Roy was an avid golfer and enjoyed bird hunting, fly fishing, and camping.  He had a life-long love for horses, cattle, and dogs.

Roy passed away peacefully on December 1, 2022, at the age of 95.  He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Rogers, his mother Grace Harnett Rogers Soldani, his stepfather Frank Soldani, his son Steve Rogers, his brothers Harvey and Harold Rogers, and his sister, Patsy Rogers Dimond.  He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Nancy Rogers of Fairfax, his daughter Barbara Jacques and husband, Dave of Shidler, Oklahoma, granddaughter Julie Jacques Lawrence and husband, Chad of Springdale, Arkansas, granddaughter Sarah Jacques Vap and husband, Jesse of Shidler, Oklahoma, and great-grandchildren Hayden, Hudson and Eisley Lawrence and Austin and Audrey Vap.  Pall bearers are Chris DeMuth, Jeff Kubik, Gary Faul, Jesse Vap, Chad Lawrence, and Eddie Randol.  Honorary pall bearers are Jack McCarty, Joe Cary, Ike Glass, David Bruce, Austin Vap, Hayden Lawrence, and Hudson Lawrence.

There will be a 3:00pm rosary followed with a visitation until 6:00pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at Grace Memorial Chapel, 2016 N. 14th Street, Ponca City, Oklahoma.

The funeral mass will be on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 10:00am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1314 Lynn Avenue, Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  Burial will be at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City.