Shirley Roberta Rogers

Shirley Roberta Sutton Rogers, 89, passed away January 2, 2016 at Fox Meadows Assisted Living, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Shirley was born on June 7, 1926, at the old Namaqua Hospital in Loveland, Colorado, to Harold Cecil Sutton and Georgia Edith Marie Birdsall Sutton. She attended grade school at the Big Thompson School west of Loveland. When she completed 7th grade, her family moved to Estes Park, where her father and mother owned and operated a produce stand and later built and operated a grocery store. Shirley and her two brothers worked in the store after school and during the summer. Business flourished as it was at a time when the Big Thompson Diversion Tunnel was being built.

After graduation from Estes Park High School in 1944, Shirley attended the University of Denver, where she majored in Business. She was dissatisfied with her major and planned to transfer to Colorado A&M to take up Interior Design after working for a year. However, plans changed when an Air Force officer she had known since childhood—Chester Lee Rogers—came to visit her and proposed. Shirley and her parents were visiting her paternal grandparents in Roseburg, Oregon, at the time. Both Shirley and Chet were very sure that they were meant to be life companions, so they were married right away without waiting for a big wedding at home.

Chet served in World War II in the Pacific Theater as a B24 navigator, while Shirley remained the faithful wife at home. Upon returning from war, Chet began to attend Colorado A&M College, but was called back into service.

Once Chet returned home for good, they pursued various jobs and occupations, before Chet returned to college to complete his Master's degree. They moved to Denver and spent five years there, working for the U.S. and State Departments of Agriculture. At that point, they purchased a farm in Waverly, Colorado, and moved out of the city to live in the country for the next 20 years, raising cattle, farming and dairying.

Over the years Shirley worked for various employers--Travelers Insurance, Colorado A&M Agronomy Department, Safeway, Forneys, and Neo Data. When they quit farming, they moved in to Fort Collins for a brief period and then to Wellington, where Shirley was the office manager for her husband, who was a United Farm Real Estate broker.

After losing her husband, Shirley continued to live in Wellington with her kitty and pal, "Edie Lee," until February 2015 when her health wouldn't allow her to live there any longer.

She is survived by her sons, Ben Rogers, (wife, Jo); Harold Sutton (wife, Tina); Charles Rogers (wife, Judy); daughter, Janna Ruck (husband, Ron); grandchildren, Richard, Lori, Anissa, Stacy, Austin (wife, Jen), A.J., Adam (wife, Amber), and Allison; great grandchildren, Kendall, Gage, Morgan, Tenley, and C.J.; brother, Roy Sutton; sister-in-law, Luella Sutton; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Chester Lee Rogers; her brother, Harold Edwin Sutton; and her parents and grandparents.

Shirley was always busy with many activities, interests, and helping others. She was a member of the Laporte Presbyterian Church and a member/held various offices in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Farmers Union, Beta Sigma Phi Extension Club, and Disabled American Veterans. She also did volunteer work and served on the Executive Board of the Wellington Senior Center. She enjoyed decorating her home through the various seasons and holidays, painting, doing all kinds of crafts, helping with children's 4-H projects, and teaching Sunday school.

Even though her last year was a very trying time of pain, going through two hospital and rehab stays, moving from her long time home in Wellington to independent living, and then finally to assisted living, she continued to grasp onto life and touch the hearts of those around her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.