D. Elizabeth Rogers

Graveside services for Elizabeth Rogers, 87, will be held December 19, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Hot Springs, Ark. She passed away quietly December 15 at her home in Cincinnati. Her husband, James E. Rogers Jr., was called Home September 10, the day before their 66th wedding anniversary, and after so many years in a happy and devoted marriage, Elizabeth just couldn't bear to be without her James. She is survived by her son, Sam, and his wife, Tira, of Burlington, Ky. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elijah W. Akin and Susan E. Bennett Akin; her brother; and her four sisters. A soft-spoken, gentle woman with an iron will, Elizabeth ran her home with near-military precision. She dedicated herself to providing a loving, stable, attractive home for her husband and son. Their life in West Helena, Ark., revolved around James' work schedule with Arkansas Power and Light at the Ritchie SES, and her mornings began very early fixing breakfasts and lunches for her "boys." She was active in the Methodist church wherever they lived, helping with Women's Circle and the church's charitable endeavors. After James' retirement, they moved back "home" to Hot Springs, Ark., where she thankfully got to sleep a bit later but was no less dedicated to providing order and routine for the husband she loved so dearly. She loved to shop but was incredibly frugal, and she refused to buy an outfit without "visiting it" multiple times to watch the price tag drop to what she was willing to pay. Her favorite Christmas gift every year was a Dillard's gift certificate, and it took her the entire year to spend it all. When she moved from Hot Springs to Cincinnati to be closer to her son, she had an extensive collection of hats and gloves that every well-dressed woman was expected to wear in the 1950s and 1960s, still in as-new condition. When she spent money, it was money well spent. There's something special about the bond between mother and son, and her bond with Sam was no different. All of his best qualities he got from her, including "visiting" a potential purchase multiple times until the price was "just right." Her organizational skills, her precision, her desire for order, and her gentle but iron-willed manner are all traits that have served Sam well in his life. Her daughter-in-law feels incredibly blessed to have known her and remembers with fond tears the day Elizabeth revealed her feelings of the day they first met: "I knew when Sam brought you home that first time that you were ‘the one.'" She reinforced that thought many times throughout the years. She was a fabulous wife, mother, and mother-in-law, and she will be sorely missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to PetSmart Charities, the donor's local hospice organization, or the favorite charity of the donor. The online obituary, guestbook, and memorial tribute are available at www.grossfuneralhome.com.