Rogers valued work ethic all of her life

Vera Rogers was a quiet woman but not one that let hard work intimidate her.

Born on July 20, 1915, in Goldthwaite, Texas, she was the second child born out of nine. She and her family moved to Elida while she was still young. She graduated from Elida High School in 1934 and married her high school sweetheart, Temple Rogers, on Dec. 21, 1934, in Elida.

Entering their new life, they leased a farm using apple crates as furniture. During tough times, they earned their income selling cream, hogs and fryers. In 1938, they bought their first tractor. Then, in 1941, she and Temple purchased their own home paying from $6 to $7.50 per acre. Five years later, she and her husband purchased her in-laws’ home where she lived until her husband died in 1999.

Rogers then moved to the Senior Citizen Resident Center in Clovis where she spent her final days.

Vera Rogers died Aug. 16, 2004 but lived a full life. She worked as a librarian in Elida at the Elida Public Library. She was a member of the Elida Homemaker’s Club and the Elida Baptist Church.

Vera Rogers was described as being a woman that never complained. She was called supportive, independent, and very hard working.

“She still mowed her own lawn even at the age of 84,” said Vera’s daughter, Marilyn Belcher. “She took pride in her children and her home, teaching them the importance of hard work and getting through life.”

Her family members said she loved to sew, knit, crochet, do crossword puzzles, and cook.

“It was her quilting that she took great pride (in),” Belcher said. “She has 17 grandchildren and for each one, she made a quilt.”

Rogers’ younger brother, Cecil Davis, was born 10 years after his sister, but remembers her being someone with a lot of courage.

“She took up for herself, her friends and definitely her family,” Davis said. “She taught me about love and respect.”

Vera’s younger sister, Francis Taylor, recalls social hour between her older siblings.

“Vera would trim and curl hair using an iron curling iron. This particular type of curling iron was heated over a burning kerosene lamp which created a crimp look in hair. They would fix one another’s hair and catch up on the details of life,” Taylor said.