Neal Rogers

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Neal Duane Rogers, 76, was born May 15, 1945, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to the late Sherman C. and Kathleen Revoir Rogers of Lowndes, Missouri. He passed away peacefully at his home in Chaffee Friday, June 18, 2021.

Neal graduated from Greenville (Missouri) High School in 1963. After graduation he, and a large group of his family, headed to Alaska with the dream of becoming homesteaders. When this dream did not become a reality, the family returned to Missouri, and Neal was drafted into the U.S. Army. Upon receiving his draft papers, he promptly enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and proudly served as a member of the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron from 1965 to 1969. He was crew chief on the RF 101-C Voodoo and stationed at Upper Heyford RAF in England.

While there, he met his lovely wife, Sally. They were married on Feb. 22, 1969, in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England. Three months after returning to the States, Neal and Sally became the proud parents of a baby boy. Five years later, just as Duane was settling quite nicely into the role of an only child, the little sisters started arriving, one by one, every year until their family of six was complete.

After working long, hot days at the sawmill, Neal loved to come home and take his family to the river for a swim. He would do this every night until the last day of October, and those last few swims of the season could be quite chilly.

He loved to collect coins and model cars, but his favorite pastime was playing cards with family and friends. He was known for being quite competitive and the matches could even become a bit rowdy, especially if he was not the winner. Neal had a heart of gold; he would give anyone the shirt off his back. He was always willing to lend a helping hand or give someone a ride, and he never met a stranger.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Kohut Rogers of Chaffee; son, Duane E. (Beth) Rogers of Okeechobee, Florida; three daughters, Rebecca E. Rogers of Wichita, Kansas, and Vanissia D. Lemons and Hannah L. Obermann, both of Chaffee; two brothers, David Rogers of Washington and Noah Rogers of Poplar Bluff; three sisters, Martha McCarthy of Lowndes, Nancy Rogers of Dexter, Missouri, and Nellie Greenlee of Puxico, Missouri; eight grandsons, Joshua (Amanda) Rogers, Christopher (Shelby) Rogers, Kaleb (Elizabeth) Smith, Cody (Shyann) Jarrell, Austin Wilson, Kamren Smith, Jordon (Cecelia) Rogers and Christian (Jordyn) Obermann; five granddaughters, Kourtnie Smith, Natasha (George) Torres, Tiffany (Cortez) Carr, Allyssa Jarrell and Elizabeth Metcalf; eight great-grandsons; four great-granddaughters; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Neal was preceded in death by his father, Sherman C. Rogers in 2007; his mother, Kathleen Revoir) Rogers in 1963; two brothers, Jerry Rogers and Dean Rogers; three sisters, Evelyn Slaughter, Beverly Pittman and Shirley Propst; one grandson, James Roland Burnett Jr.; and one great-grandson, Elijah Matthew Rogers.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Community Church of Christ in Lowndes.

Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. today at the church, officiated by Dale Rogers. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Morgan Funeral Home in Advance, Missouri, is in charge of arrangements.