JAY DEE ROGERS

November 29, 2021

Jay Dee Rogers, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died November 29 after a brief struggle with cancer. He was 91. Writer, newspaperman, and avid reader, he was a lover of words, inveterate punster, and tireless editor during his years at the Express News. Born in Collinsville, TX, one of eight children, he is survived by his wife of 64 years, Evelyn; son Larry (Sue) of San Antonio; daughter Laura Varner (Tom) of Lafayette, CA; sister Frances Taylor of Irving, TX; grandsons Patrick and David Varner of Lafayette; Mark Rogers of London, England, and Andrew and Luke Rogers of San Antonio; and many nieces and nephews. His love of journalism began in high school when he worked part time as copyboy for the Dallas Times Herald. After a short stint in the air force, he enrolled in North Texas State College, now UNT, where he majored in journalism and economics. Working full time at the Denton Record Chronicle, he graduated in three years. At NT he met Evelyn, also a journalism student. After graduation, both began reporting jobs at the Odessa American. Along with a city judge and his wife, they ventured out on a leaky yacht (repaired in Galveston after a near sinking in the Houston Ship Channel) and sailed to the Caribbean, staying on the small island of Bimini for several weeks. Leaving the yacht, Jay and Evelyn stayed for a month in Cuba, narrowly missing a meeting with new president Fidel Castro. They returned to settle in San Antonio, where Jay began his 35-year career at the Express News. Retirement brought new time for world travel (especially in Italy) and an expanded genealogy research. Jay lived a good life. He will be missed.