Jimmy L. "Jim" Rogers

Jimmy L. “Jim” Rogers passed from this life Monday , February 11, 2019 at his home in Ballew Springs. Jim was born August 26, 1940 in Epps, Louisiana and grew up the second of seven children. He enlisted in the Navy in 1959 where he learned the machinist trade that would become his livelihood. It was on leave in 1962 that he went home with a friend to Mineral Wells, Texas and met a lovely young lady named Jean. They began exchanging letters and the next time he saw Jean Watson face to face was when he came back to marry her. They were married in her mother’s living room on July 14, 1962.
When he was honorably discharged as a petty officer second class in February of 1963, he and Jean moved back to Mineral Wells. It was there that Jim went to work for Bateman Foundry building ironworking machinery and honing his craft. He left Bateman in 1975 and started Rogers & Dunaway Machine with W.T. Dunaway. During the next 26 years, Jim became a valued machinist in Mineral Wells, Weatherford and the surrounding areas. He was considered one of the top machinists in the country doing work for companies such as Phillips Petroleum and 3M. He spent many long days and late nights taking care of companies that were in a bind with a machine down and would go into the shop at any hour to help someone in need. In 1997, Jim bought Lehman, Inc. and it became Rogers Manufacturing, Inc. He then sold Rogers & Dunaway in order to devote his energies to this new venture, forging new work relationships while continuing to take care of the customers that followed him from R & D. Jim was respected and admired by all of the wonderful people that he came into contact with during those years and he cherished those relationships. He was a tremendous benefit to many during his years as a business owner but also in service to his community. Jim was a director of the Mineral Wells Jaycee’s, a member of the Whitt Masonic Lodge #624 and served as secretary and president of the school board for Garner ISD where all three of his and Jean’s daughters were students. Jim Rogers was a man of tremendous intelligence, great warmth and kindness, and an impeccable work ethic. He was a wonderful friend to all who knew him; quick with a kind word, an interesting story or a joke that would leave you gasping for air. Most importantly, he was a wonderful husband to an amazing woman, the greatest father that three girls could have ever been blessed to call Dad and a warm and loving Grandpa.

Jim is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Leah and Bruce Gillespie, and Tammy and Richard Leitgeb; grandchildren, Marissa Smith and husband Clay Godwin, Jimmy Gillespie, Sydney Gillespie-Plowman and husband Yancee, Zachary James and wife Ashley, Alexandra James and Trinity Leitgeb; great-grandchildren, Kaydence Matthews, Laiken Gillespie and Anson Godwin; brother, Earl Perritt; sisters, Audrey Barbee, Sue Crouch and Adalene Duncan; loving companion, Shirley Mayers; sister-in-law, Nina Garland; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and a host of loving friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Jean Rogers, his daughter, Trela Rogers-Fonville, his mother, Lillie Mae Perritt, and two brothers, Clarence Rogers and John Perritt.

**In honor of his wishes, there will be no services as Dad chose to have people remember him as he was and to visit with him in his final days. Please know that he loved each of you very much. We would like to extend a special thank you to Miss Shirley for the love and care given to Dad in his last years. You have been a tremendous blessing to the whole family and we love you very much.