Rev. Mr. William Joseph Rogers

The life of Rev. Mr. William Joseph Rogers is fondly remembered by his large family and community of many friends. Surrounded by his family, William "Bill" Joseph Rogers passed from this Earth to his Heavenly Home on Friday, February 7, 2014 at his home in Taylor, Navajo County, Arizona following a lengthy illness. He was 77 years old. Bill was born on May 28, 1936 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky to the late Dorothy Lee Beavin and William James Snyder. While yet an infant, Bill was adopted by the late Charles Lesley and Elizabeth Ellen (White) Rogers and, as their son, he considered it an honored privilege to call them his parents. They taught him well and, by so doing, Bill led a faithful and loving life. As a child in 1945, he moved with his family to Phoenix, Arizona. While growing up, Bill served many years as an Altar boy at St. Mary's Catholic Church. As he became a young man, he attended Phoenix Tech for 3 years, where he majored in Commercial Arts. However, Bill found his real joy when he married Velda Rollins on October 22, 1955 at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Phoenix. Bill and Velda started a family and moved to Taylor, Arizona in January of 1964, where Bill worked at the Paper Mill until 1998. This town became their home. Here, they raised their family of four children and, all the while, Bill made a great impact on this community. Bill was an active member of his church. He was a very devoted faithful man and was proud to become the first Deacon for Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church in 1988. He took his position in the Church with great responsibility and grace; he was always willing to help anyone in need and was respected by all. He served faithfully as Deacon until 2006, when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Bill led an active life outside the Church as well. He took his civic duty seriously and was involved in the Lions Club, was 4H instructor, a little league coach, an Arizona Ranger volunteer, and many more. He had a great love for the outdoors and made sure to find time to hunt, hike the hills and was an avid collector of rocks of all shapes, colors and sizes. Bill was an admirer of the Irish Culture - holding dear to his heart Irish Prayers, and loved the music and customs. Bill was well noted for his great sense of humor and shared numerous laughs with all those around him. Bill was loved by everyone he knew. He was a very dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother and son. Family was paramount to Bill's life. He is survived by his: beloved wife, Velda Rogers; 4 children: Sheila (Tommy) Towell, Virginia (Bill) Crossman, Billy (Donna) Rogers, Kenny (Judy) Rogers; 7 siblings: Mary (Fred) Hungerford, Charmaine (Herb) Bull, Bernie (Bobbie) Dumas, Milby Dumas, Myron (Gina) Dumas, Danny Winters, John Rogers; 11 grandchildren: Tommy Towell, Jr., Theresa Towell, Rachell (Joe) Raymond, Tabetha (Joe) Hargett, Rubin Crossman, Jenelle (Jack) Bowers, Troy (Ashley) Towell, Jeremy (Amber) Crossman, Jarret (Alvira) Rogers, Billie Jo (Dustin) Starks, Rebecca Rogers; 16 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. Along with his parents, Billy was preceded in death by 4 siblings: Anna Jean May, Brenda Beauchamp, Jean (Vince) Maitner, Lenard Snyder and by 1 grandson, William "Willy" Rogers, III. "Forever in our hearts, a life lived to its fullest through love and faith." The visitation and viewing will be from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Monday, February 10, 2014 at Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church, 1655 S. Main Street in Snowflake, Arizona and will immediately be followed by the Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 P.M. at the church. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will begin 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, February 11, 2014 where additional visitation will be 1 hour prior. The concluding service and interment will take place at the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery in Taylor, Arizona.