Jesse D. “J.D.” Rodgers, a longtime Cushing area resident, passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at the age of 83 years.

The son of the late Marshall R. Rodgers and Dolly Grace Pruitt Rodgers, J. D. was born on February 5, 1925 in Ripley, Oklahoma.

He grew up in Ripley, attending the Independence School.

J. D. served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He was a member of the Church of the Firstborn, being baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on December 2, 1941.

He was united in marriage to Deloris Herrmann on February 14, 1943 at the home of Bob Tibbett in Parkland, Oklahoma.

Many will remember J. D. as being a dedicated fisherman who would fish from sunup to sundown.

He worked a number of years as a peanut farmer and a dairy farmer for a number of years.

J. D. spent his life laying brick and rock for many in the community.

He loved to play music and sing with his children, they would often sing for many funerals in the community.

J. D. is survived by his two daughters, Evangelin Hamilton and her husband Ernest of Cushing ;and Sharon Neal and her husband Virgil of Henryetta, Oklahoma; two sons, Don Rodgers and his wife Louise of Agra; and Dorman Rodgers and his wife Bonnie of Agra; one brother, Harold Rodgers and his wife Nina of Cushing; one sister, Emma Lee Smith and her husband Addrin of Visalia, California; seventeen grandchildren; forty four great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Deloris; his parents; one brother, Richard Rodgers; one sister, Faye Sarli; and fifteen half brothers and sisters.

Funeral services have been entrusted to the Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing, Oklahoma and will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 2, 2008 in the Church of the Firstborn in Cushing. Brother Ollie Bosch and Brother Wayne Tibbett will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Parkland Cemetery.

The music will be provided by J. E. and Vickie Sweet, Benny Porter and Bobby Jasper.

Serving as casket bearers will be Bruce Upchurch, Lesley Rodgers, Brian Neal, Grady Rodgers, LCDR Brent Rodgers, Marshall Rodgers. Honorary casket bearers will be Wesley Earnest, Gary Whetstone, Brandon Rhodes.