James Rogers, 84, died at his home in Halfway on June 16, 2008, surrounded by his loving family. Over the weekend of June 21-22, the family gathered for a celebration of Jim’s life.
James Everett Rogers was born on Aug. 29, 1923, in Ripley, Calif. He was raised in Southern and Northern California, graduating from Marysville High School in Marysville, California in 1942. After graduation, Jim served in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1942 to 1946 on three different destroyers. He was on the U.S.S. Satterlee during the Normandy invasion and on the U.S.S. Madison when it rescued survivors on the U.S.S. Indianapolis.
Jim met his wife Yvonne in 1960 in Marysville, Calif. They were married in Reno, Nev., in 1967. Jim worked as a knife grinder and foreman at a moulding mill in Marysville, Calif. He retired in 1987.
He enjoyed racecar driving, fishing, hunting and most importantly, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Jim and Yvonne traveled in their 5th wheel until they settled down in Halfway, Ore., in 2005.
Jim is survived by his wife Yvonne of 42 years, daughters Donna and husband Chuck Bramhal of Reading, Massachuettes, Diane Johnson of Wakefield, Mass., Tami and husband Ted Cogan of Oceanside, Calif.; sons Jim Rogers Jr. and wife Judy of Doyle, Calif., Gary and wife Kay Rogers of Mt. Vernon, Mo., David and Joey Rogers of Mt. Vernon, Mo.; step-children Duane Anderson of Halfway, Ore., Kathy and husband John Toepper of Graham, Wash., Keith Bonson of Renton, Wash., Rhonda and husband Bob Bunker of Renton, Wash., Gary and wife Jacquie Bonson of Finley, Calif., Renee and husband Gary Patton of Cardington, Ohio, Terry Bonson of Burlington, Vermont; 34 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, three sisters and one grandson.
Those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Jim may do so to Heart n’ Home Hospice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, June 26, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor