Roger Thomas Elliott

Roger Thomas Elliott – beloved husband, loving father and grandfather, and faithful friend, passed away on Thursday, July 14, 2011 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. He was 59 years old. Roger was born on October 8, 1951 in Trenton, Michigan to Thomas Franklin Elliott and Irene Marion Dedo Elliott, both now deceased. He has one sister, Rosemary Paulitch, who now lives with her husband Jim in Brownstown Township, Michigan. Roger grew up in Wyandotte, Michigan and was an outstanding baseball player all through high school. He started his college education at Northern Michigan University and then enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. During this time he met the love of his life – Holly Wilson. Their first date was a blind date on Friday the 13th of October, l972. Roger always said that when he picked Holly up at the dorm at Eastern New Mexico University, it was love at first sight. He proposed 2 months later and they were married the following July. They celebrated their 38th anniversary on July 7th. Roger was an avid OU football fan with season tickets on the 40 yard line. He loved getting on the internet every day to read up on his favorite team. He also loved golfing, playing cards with friends, reading, listening to music and spending time at his mountain home in Cloudcroft, New Mexico with family and close friends. Roger got an early out from the Air Force and he and Holly moved to Norman, Oklahoma. Roger received his bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Land Management in 2 ½ years by attending summer sessions and interims at the University of Oklahoma. He was ready to get on with life. Perseverance and goals guided him all his life, with his family always foremost in his thoughts. Their first son, Carson, was born on April 13, l976, just before Roger graduated. Upon graduation, Roger, Holly and 10 month old Carson moved to Casper, Wyoming where Roger worked for Terra Resources. Everyone in the office was fresh out of college, and Roger felt he needed guidance in his new profession so requested a transfer to Denver, Colorado. After relocating, Roger started working for Texas Oil and Gas. Their next 2 children were born there. Daughter Forest Marion was born July 17, l978 and son Cody Thomas was born July 1, 1980. Roger and Holly’s next move was to Artesia, New Mexico to become part of a family corporation – Rio Pecos Corporation. Father-in-law, Mark Wilson was the head geologist. Brothers-in-law Scott Wilson and Todd Wilson also worked for the corporation. In 1983 everyone decided to move to Midland, Texas which was a better location for the oil and gas industry. Sister-in-law, Heather Echols and her husband John then joined the corporation. Roger and family have been in Midland since then. In 1992, Roger decided to become an independent landman and has continued working as a landman up until his final days when business partner and friend, Russ Mathis, came to visit him in Houston to assure him all was well and would be taken care of. Roger often enjoyed business lunches with two of his closest and dearest friends Russ and Don McClung as well as many other friends in the industry. Roger was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Franklin Elliott of Wyandotte, Michigan and mother, Irene Marion Dedo Elliott of Southgate, Michigan. Roger is survived by his wife, Holly Lynn Wilson Elliott and three children, Carson Dale Elliott, Forest Marion Elliott Wallace and her husband, Mike and their children Lynnley Elizabeth and Laney Kate, and Cody Thomas Elliott and his wife, Lacy and their children Parker Holly and Thomas David. Roger adored his four young grandchildren and was one very proud Papa. They were a constant source of joy and laughter and helped keep his spirits high. Roger’s one sister, Rosemary Ann Paulitch, was always a loving and devoted sister. She and husband, Jim were so special to him. Roger’s in laws are Mark and Mary Lou Wilson of Midland, Texas and sister-in-law Heather Echols and husband, John, of Midland, Texas. Roger’s brothers-in-law are Scott Wilson and wife Cindy of Austin, Texas and Todd Wilson and wife, Carol, of Midland, Texas. He also has 8 nieces and nephews. Cherished friends throughout the years include Joe and Lenora Greffin, Rex and Susan Boudreau, Larry and Cathy Roberts, John and Constance Angus, Jim and Sharon Woodard and cousin Tim Elliott and his wife Judy. Roger and Holly will be forever thankful for the love and compassion Tim and Judy showed. They let them stay with them in Katy, Texas for weeks at a time while Roger was undergoing treatments at MD Anderson. It was their beautiful garden that inspired Roger to replant much of his yard here in Midland. A very special thanks also to Roger’s sister, Rosemary for her love and support during Roger’s battle with cancer. She was always there for them with words of encouragement. Roger loved his sister. There were many, many people that showed their love and support over the past 3 years. Holly and her children want to thank every one of them and hope they know how much it meant to them.

“If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.”