Oakley E. Rogers

On September 13th, 2015, just one month short of his 100th birthday, Oakley E. Rogers of Roseburg, OR went to be with the Lord. He died of complications from a stroke that he suffered in the fall of 2014 and spent much of the past year in the VA Hospital and Transitional Care Unit at Roseburg. Oakley was born to Howard Laffyette Rogers and Effie Arizona (Brooks) Rogers in Pawhuska, Oklahoma on October 10, 1915. Having moved to Arizona and then California at age 12 he started making his own way in the world just three years later. He did everything he could from picking mushrooms and working in orange orchards to leading pack trains into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and working bit parts in western movies. Oakley enlisted the Army National Guard during WWII and was responsible for the sinking of three Japanese sub-marines in the L.A. harbor. While in the Guard he passed the Officer Training School with the 2nd highest score only to be told he didn't qualify because he had dropped out of school in the 8th grade. Rheumatic fever caused him to be discharged from the military soon after marrying June E. Elliott of Canyonville, Oregon in 1943 and then they moved to Roseburg, Oregon which he claimed as his home from then on. Oakley spent the majority of his working life here as a carpenter and retired in 1980. He was an avid sportsman and active member of the Assembly of God Church before becoming house bound. Having always loved history he spent much of his house bound years reading and continuing to learn. Oakley was preceded in death by his wife, June E. (Elliott) Rogers in 1991 and leaves behind three children; Raymond L. Rogers and wife Jerrene of Petaluma, California, Nancy C. Neifert of Roseburg, Oregon and Kathryn M. Brown and husband Gordon L. Brown also of Roseburg Oregon. His six grandchildren; Dawna Evens, Konni McComb., Randy Neifert, Roger Neifert, Brian Brown and Jeff Brown all live in the Roseburg area with their families. He also leaves twelve great-grand-children and ten great-great-grand-children that he has enjoyed immensely over the years. Oakley was a colorful and intelligent man to the end and leaves his family rich in wisdom and memories. He was loved by many and will be missed greatly. Funeral services with Military Honors will be held Friday, September 18, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Wilson's Chapel of the Roses. Private interment will follow within the Shaffer Cemetery in Canyonville, Oregon.