Caitlin Elizabeth Rogers

Caitlin Elizabeth Rogers was born at 3:01 AM on January 7, 2001 in Dallas, Texas, and immediately the world became a brighter place. Her parents, Richard and Anne Rogers, could not have been prouder. She lived in Coppell most of her life, but it was during the family's short relocation to Houston that her brother, Nicholas, was born. Immediately, Caitlin found her new best friend for life. She was the ultimate big sister and they were as close as siblings can be.

Caitlin’s loving spirit and joy for life caused a beautiful side effect: her presence brightened every room she walked into and every life she touched. From Valley Ranch Baptist Preschool through Wilson Elementary, Coppell Middle School West, New Tech High @ Coppell, and the University of Oklahoma, her natural curiosity made Caitlin an eager student who loved to learn.

She also never met a stage she didn’t want to be on, which was exemplified by the many years she spent at the Melva Smith School of Dance, and later at Dana’s Studio of Dance. Caitlin’s passion for dance spilled into other areas of artistic performance, including playing piano, singing, and acting.

As she grew older, one of Caitlin’s most amazing qualities came to the forefront – her desire to share and pass along her love of performing with younger kids. Caitlin’s big heart made her a magnet for kids (and DOGS). She became a beloved teacher by her tiny dancers at Melva’s, and more recently with the Missoula Children’s Theater camp at the Coppell Arts Center. Caitlin’s love for children and her ability to make them feel special was also front and center in her time spent being a nanny to Brody and Cooper. Her time spent around kids made her dream of the day she’d become a mother, and there’s no doubt her kids would’ve been some of the luckiest ever born.

During high school, Caitlin’s spirit of perseverance began to emerge. Her accomplished high school career was full of successes and examples of her bold and courageous spirit. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She was elected president of NTC for her senior year and selected to give the opening speech at her high school graduation. She was a member of the Silver Stars JV Drill Team as a freshman and the Coppell Lariettes Varsity Drill Team as a sophomore. However, that courage was never more on display than when as a junior she decided to take on an exciting new challenge – playing lacrosse for the first time. She instantly became a favorite of her teammates and coaches, exemplified by her selection as a JV captain as a junior and varsity captain her senior year. Now the freshman from that team are seniors, and have very intentionally held onto the examples Caitlin taught them about what it means to be a teammate and friend. She carried on her love for lacrosse as a member of the OU Women’s Club Lacrosse Team her freshman and sophomore years. The bravery that it took to walk fearlessly into the classroom, onto the lighted stage, and running onto a lacrosse field was a recurring theme in Caitlin’s life. Her courage was on full display every time she was in front of a crowd to dance, sing, and act. She had the fearlessness to walk her own path and spend her life in pursuit of excellence. Caitlin also exemplified what it means to have a servant’s heart. Whether she was leading tours at New Tech, teaching kids dance/theater, serving food and bussing tables at ZenZero, or working at The Core, she freely and joyfully gave of herself to better the lives of others. She was a friend to the “underdogs” in life – the kid on the playground who nobody was playing with, or the dog whose original family had given up on him, and was a role model for how to make the world a brighter place. Like all of us, Caitlin battled life's stresses and anxieties. As a 21-year old trying to find herself and her path forward, she struggled at times to embrace her soul’s true beauty that we have all known since the day she first brightened our lives. But it was out of that struggle that Caitlin found a new inner strength and bravery that few have ever realized, even after much longer lives. Towards the end of her all-too-short life, she rediscovered herself, her inner beauty, and her passionate spirit to make a profoundly positive impact on the world. She reclaimed her life, her joy, and her brave spirit to rediscover the same brilliant force that she had always been. And just like that, she found Caitlin.

In one of her last notes on her iPad, Caitlin referred to two songs, Fighter by Christina Aguilera and Warrior by Demi Lovato. The lyrics to those songs exemplify the character and soul that made Caitlin such a special person, and her ability to turn adversity into strength are exemplified by these lyrics: It makes me that much stronger, makes me work a little bit harder, it makes me that much wiser, so thanks for making me a fighter.

Caitlin and her life will serve as a priceless inspiration to all of us who knew her – and to those who follow. We can all find the Caitlin in ourselves and persevere. With her whole life in front of her, she was literally taking the first steps into a beautiful new phase. Her life was cut far too short in a senseless act of violence. Fortunately, her beautiful spirit and memory will live in all of us, and with her loved ones above.

Caitlin is survived by her family, including her parents, Richard and Anne Rogers, her brother, Nicholas Rogers, her beloved dog, Finn, her grandparents, Mike and Sarah Butrum, her grandmother, Ginny Rogers, her grandparents, Bill and Jan Morton, her uncle and aunt, Michael Butrum, and Amanda Knight, her cousin, Loki Butrum, her uncle and aunt, Matt and Heather Deupree, her cousins Alyssa and Parker Deupree, her uncle and aunt, Beach and Lindsay Hensley, her cousins, Beachler and Levi, her uncle and aunt Christopher and Cindy Rogers, and her cousins, Ellie, Amelia, and Grace. She is survived by numerous other uncles, aunts, and cousins. She was recently proceeded in death by her grandfather, Earl “Pops” Rogers. It gives us some peace knowing that their spirits are together.

In Lieu of flowers, please honor Caitlin's memory by donating to the One Love Foundation https://www.joinonelove.org/donate/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.rollingoaksfuneralhome.com for the Rogers family.