Dorothy Anderson Rogers

She was raised in a large family that would eventually consist of 3 other sisters Pereace, Darneace and Bernice. And 3 brothers Lawson “L.C.”, “L.T.” and Roosevelt some born before and after her.

As a child of the Great Depression the family grew up on hard times sometimes having to share hand me down clothes, but Dorothy never said they went a day without going hungry and sharing a meal. Seeking a better life for his family during World War II grandpa Carl or “Pete” as he was known decided to have the family move to Portland Oregon. As there were work opportunities for African Americans at the Kaiser shipyard on and near Swan Island. As a 16-year-old back in 1942, it was decided that Dorothy would be the first to move out to Portland to make a way for the rest of the family. Soon the rest of the family would follow.

Dorothy attended and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1945. She worked in various retail stores and then decided to start a career in nursing. Seeing that no nursing school in Portland would accept a black woman, she moved to Chicago Illinois and graduated from the Chicago School of Nursing with a Licensed Practical Nursing Degree. She applied and was hired as a nursing assistant at Emmanuel Hospital in May of 1949. The first African American woman in Portland to do so. Dorothy worked in numerous departments including OB-GYN delivering babies and the Neurology department as well.

In 1950 Mom married a returning Army soldier from Texas named Nathaniel Irving. From this union her first son Nathaniel Jr. was born. Dorothy continued to work at Emmanuel for several years and was known to be seen at times walking to work in her white nursing uniform.

In the early 1960’s Dorothy divorced Nathaniel Irving and then met Theodore “Teddy” Rogers who himself was one of the first black postal letter carrier's in Portland, whom she knew she said from back in high school. They were married in June of 1965 and from this marriage their son Joe was born in March of 1966. Around the late 1960’s Dorothy changed careers and worked for the Multnomah County Library at the Albina branch on N. Russell St. And for a few years in the early 1970’s she worked for the City of Portland for the Portland Development Commission directly under Charles Jordan. Dorothy finished out her formal nursing career by going back to work at Emmanuel Hospital as a CNA around 1973-1974 until she retired from there in 1980. But she was not done being of service to others as she worked for a few years for the local American Red Cross across from the hospital assisting with blood draws. She also worked for various home care health agencies up until she was around 75 years old.

Mama Dorothy was a people person who truly enjoyed laughter and good conversation with family, friends and random people she would meet. She loved to read, garden in the backyard when she was able and loved to go fishing at the drop of the hat!

Dorothy was the last of her family to pass away as she was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands and all her brothers and sisters. She is also preceded in death by her first son Nathaniel and his son Nathaniel III also know as "Peter". She is survived by her son Joe Wayne Rogers(Catherine), 4 grandchilderen and 7 great grandchilderen. And the stepchildren that she raised, Jerry Rogers and Gail Robinson. She also acknowledges the children raised from Teddy’s previous relationships: Kenny Adair(Harriet), Donny Adair(Linda-Faye), Johnny Moore, Jahad Moore and Charlotte Moore. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and family.