James J. Rogers

Jim Rogers, 83, lately of Leawood, KS, began his final journey on September 12, 2011. He leaves his wife, Patty Payne Rogers, four children – Kelly Carmichael, Carrie Scrabeck, John Rogers, and Krissy Dyson, seven grandchildren, and his siblings, Patti Hughes and Bob Rogers.

Jim was born on May 10, 1928, in Kansas City, KS, the first child of Bob and Mary Rogers. He graduated from Bishop Lillis High in Kansas City, MO, attended Rockhurst College, then left school to pursue a baseball career. He played in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization before enlisting in the Navy, where he served as a signalman from 1951 to 1953, traveling around the world on the USS Dortch. Jim married Carol Zettle, in 1956. Jim and Carol settled in Seattle, where they raised their four children. Jim built a career in real estate, working at Bel-Crest Realty, serving as Vice President of Ticor National Title, and founding his own appraisal business, before retiring in 1990.

Carol passed in 1999 and Jim married Patty – widow of Bill Payne – in 2000. They quickly merged families and Patty’s five children - David Payne, Paula Logan, John Payne, Mary Lambrechts, and Megan Riggs - 13 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren join Jim’s own children and grandchildren in mourning his loss. They all imagine Jim arriving at heaven’s gate, clapping his arm around St. Peter, and proclaiming, “it doesn’t get any better than this.”

Services are Saturday September 17 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 14201 Nall Ave., Leawood, KS with visitation at 9:00 a.m. and a memorial mass at 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3846 West 75th St., Prairie Village KS 66208.