Mary Rogers

Mary Ellen Johnson Rogers, 80, died of pancreatic cancer, peacefully in her sleep, on Oct.11, 2012, at home in Corvallis. Mary Ellen was born Jan. 29, 1932, to John Nephi and Sarah Margaret Callahan Johnson of Spanish Fork, Utah. She was the youngest of 11 children and was proud of her Icelandic/Irish heritage. She grew up in Spanish Fork, graduated from high school in 1950, then went into the U.S. Air Force. After basic training, she was sent to George Air Force Base in California, where she was trained in the hospital as a nurse’s aide. Her favorite job was working with babies. While at George AFB, she met William (Bill) Rogers Jr. They married April 17, 1951, at Mary Ellen’s brother’s home in Spanish Fork. As an Air Force wife, her life was an adventure from then until Bill’s retirement on Sept. 1, 1969. They were stationed at Amarillo AFB, Texas; Lackland AFB, Texas; James Connally AFB, Texas; McClellan AFB, Calif.; Mather AFB, Calif.; Forbes AFB, Kan.; Lincoln AFB, Neb.; Plattsburgh AFB, N.Y.; Dyess AFB, Texas; and Norton AFB, Calif. They celebrated 61 years of marriage this year. Upon retirement, they moved to their property at Vida and, after 25 years, to Brookings (Harbor). At Vida, they raised filberts and cattle, and Mary Ellen learned to work with both. As a city girl, she never had worked with cattle, but once, while Bill was gone, she helped a cow deliver a calf that had problems. That cured her of her fear of cattle! Except for the filberts and three Oregon legislative sessions where she worked in Salem as a floor secretary for Bill, Mary Ellen was a full-time housewife and mother to her three children. After 15 years in Harbor, they bought a home in Corvallis to be near children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a good hospital and medical community. Mary Ellen was a member of Grant Avenue Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; 10 brothers and sisters; and a son, Dennis Michael Rogers, who lived three days. Because of her strong Christian faith, she was looking forward to seeing them in Heaven. Mary Ellen is survived by her husband; son William (Bill) Rogers III of Tigard; daughters Kerrie Lynn Parrish and husband, Kirk, of Toledo; and Colleen Jeanette Jager and husband, Eric, of Boise. She also is survived by three grandsons; one granddaughter; three great-grandsons; and three great-granddaughters. She will be buried with military honors at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. A celebration of life service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Grant Avenue Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Benton Hospice Service or the Grant Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund in care of McHenry Funeral Home.

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Mary Rogers

January 29, 1932 - October 11, 2012