Russell Lee Rogers

In the presence of his family, Russell Lee Rogers, 77, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2017 at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital. After dealing with health issues the last few years, he finally found his healing in the arms of Jesus.

He was a good man who loved people, and who lived a good life.

One of eight siblings, Russell was born on May 13, 1940 in Hog Jaw, Arkansas to Bernice and Brooksey Rogers. He graduated from Lead Hill High School in 1959, having helped lead the school to a state basketball championship during his senior year. He then spent several years in the United States Army Reserve.

In 1961, he moved to Yakima, where he fell in love with Linda Sue Jetton, who was also from Arkansas. The two married for life on June 26, 1964, and had two children. His family was his treasure, and he worked hard all of his life to provide for it. He may have been gruff and grumpy at times, but his wife and kids never doubted his love, or his willingness to give the shirt off his back.

In his later years, he worked even harder at spoiling his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nothing gave him greater joy than hosting sleepovers, building cardboard toys, and passing out bubblegum. If anyone ever thought of messing with the grandchildren, no one dared to actually do it in his presence.

In his early years, Russell worked in the local orchards, before becoming a lumberjack who could fall trees that were wider than he was tall. He then had a long career as an auto-body repairman, which led to another long career as an insurance adjuster, from which he eventually retired.

His body and fender work led him to take his wife and kids on an Alaskan adventure that was promised to his mother-in-law as a three month working vacation, but which turned into to a five year residence. He did the things he loved in a place that was custom designed for them. He hunted and fished. He took his family camping. He watched dog sled races. He even killed him a moose and a black bear. His involvement with the Civil Air Patrol inspired him to achieve something that gave him lifelong pride – his private pilot’s license.

He eventually moved the family back to Washington State, spending a few years in the Seattle area before his 1980 move to Yakima, where he lived for the rest of his life.

It was in the Yakima Valley where Russell found faith in Jesus Christ, getting baptized in 1982 and becoming a long time member of Highland Tabernacle, a Pentecostal church in Tieton. He served in that church and others for many years. He eventually became a deacon and a Sunday School superintendent.

Russell loved country gospel music, whether he was listening or performing with his bass guitar, which he played in church and in a gospel group called the Messengers.

He also enjoyed travelling, whether to the old country in Arkansas, or taking his wife to Hawaii, or going on Wyoming hunting trips with his brothers and sisters.

Other hobbies included bowling, painting old cars, and being a humble crafter and purveyor of ducks.

Russell was preceded in death by his mother, his father, his brother Dean Rogers, his sister Delphia Marie Dodd, and his brother Jerry Rogers. He was also preceded by Lonnie and Frances Jetton, his wife’s parents whom he loved like his own.

He is survived by his loving wife, his daughter Kim Hochstatter (husband Doug), his son Paul Rogers (wife Kari), his grandchildren Seth Ashley, Tonia Rhoads-Hochstatter, Lily Hochstatter, Charity Rogers, and Jeremiah Rogers, as well two great grandchildren Seth Russell Ashley and a baby to be named later. He is also survived by his siblings Emily Jackson, Joe Rogers, Betty Moon, and Terry Rogers.

Visitation will be at Keith & Keith Funeral Home Wednesday, October 25, 2017 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be held Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 11am at Keith and Keith, with a brief graveside service to follow.

To share a memory of Russell, please visit www.keithandkeith.com

He will be missed. SPECIAL NOTE: If Russell ever made you a duck, please bring it to be displayed at the funeral. Be sure to label it with your name.