James “Jim” Leonard Rogers, 66, of La Grande, died of natural causes while cutting wood on Sept. 25. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church, 1308 Washington Ave., La Grande 97850. Loveland Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Jim was born on Feb. 16, 1941, to Lawrence and Ella (Guptil) Rogers in Priest River, Idaho. He married Shirley Bernice Olson on July 13, 1963, in Orville, Calif. They have lived in La Grande since 1965. He was a carpenter and built homes, traveling with his wife doing heavy construction and building bridges from 1982 to 2002. Jim retired in 2002.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish, snowmobile and water ski with his family, especially his grandsons, Taylor, Mitch and Jake Workinger.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Lisa and her husband, Brad Workinger; grandsons, all of La Grande; mother, Ella Inez Rogers; brothers, Jerry and his wife, Cindy Rogers, and Mickey Rogers; sisters, Sherry and her husband, Bill Renton, Robin and her husband, Kip Kreager, Laurie and her husband, Mike Kreager, all of Priest River; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Union County Search & Rescue or the La Grande High School Boys Athletic Department in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande 97850.
La Grande Observer – Obituaries For The Week Ending September 29, 2007 – Published: September 29, 2007