Mary Kuhn Rogers, 1931-2012

Mary Kuhn Rowntree Rogers died February 25, 2012, after a six-month struggle with bone cancer. She passed away quietly at home holding hands with her entire family and surrounded by brothers, sisters, cousins and long-time friends.

Mary was born August 26, 1931 in Lampasas, Texas to parents John and Lucile Rowntree. As the first grandchild of the Rowntree clan, she was nicknamed “the pride and joy” by her grandparents, and with her vibrant nature, generous spirit and beautiful brain, she more than lived up to that title.

Mary graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1952 and accepted a teaching position in Corpus Christi.  She met and married the young cadet she was to share the rest of her life with in the fall of 1952.  Robert “Rog” Rogers became her husband and life partner in January 1953 and the new couple settled in Austin, Texas.  The family grew quickly adding son Mark (Austin-1955) and daughter Leah (Austin-1956) and daughter Elizabeth “Libby” (Libya-1958).  Rog’s career as an Air Force pilot took the family around the US and the globe to places such as North Africa, Florida, Illinois, California, Texas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Iran.  Along the way, Mary earned a Masters Degree in counseling from the University of California at Sacramento in 1968 and had a rewarding career as a teacher and counselor for 22 years, sixteen of which were spent as a high school counselor with the Grand Prairie ISD.

At her recent 80^th birthday celebration, Mary counted her life’s blessings saying, “I had the quintessential pattern of a perfect mother, who provided me with six wonderful siblings to love and support me all my life.  I married the love of my life, who gave me three loving and grateful children who became my best friends.  We traveled to many exciting and exotic places where I saw much beauty and different cultures.  And I have lived to see six grandchildren become beautiful young adults. It has been a wonderful life and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Survivors:

Mary is survived by her husband of fifty-nine years, Colonel (Ret.) Robert G. Rogers; children, Mark Cranswick Rogers, Leah Lucile Rogers and husband Gregory Faris, and Elizabeth Elaine Rogers and husband Edward (Ski) Sullivan; six beloved grandchildren, Anna Faris, David Faris, Robert Faris, Cameron Sullivan, Meredith Sullivan and Avery Sullivan; six adored siblings, Martha Brownlie and husband David Brownlie, Rebecca Moore, John Rowntree and wife Mary Schleppegrell, David Rowntree and wife Sheila Rowntree, Ruth Hatcher and husband Charles Hendryx, and Paul Rowntree  and wife Beverly Rowntree; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services:

A memorial service will be held at Baker Chapel, First United Methodist Church, 122 North Center Street, Grand Prairie, Texas, at 2 PM Friday, March 2, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the charity of your choice.

View remembrances and photos at: http://marykuhn.blogspot.com

http://facebook.com/MaryKuhnRogers.