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Roger Alexander, 81, died at 10:43 p.m. August 19th at The Journey Home hospice in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He was surrounded by his loving wife and children. Though he had been battling some form of cancer for fourteen years, Roger seemed untouched by the disease until the final weeks of his life. Whether it be as a father, grandfather and great-grandfather or whether it be for his many different roles in the community-working with the Civitan Club, Elder Care, the Concern Center, Family Promise, or Disciples Christian Church-Roger will be remembered for his ongoing devotion to others.
Roger was born September 9th, 1934 in Galva, Kansas. He was the older brother to three younger sisters (Charlotte, Jeanne and Sharon) all raised by Andrew Elton Alexander and Mabel Elizabeth Alexander in McPherson, Kansas. He worked at Dillon's grocery and the NCRA refinery in McPherson (where his father worked) before becoming the first child in his family to go to a four year college, earning a B.S. in Engineering from Kansas State University (followed a decade later by an M.S. from Oklahoma State University). He served in the United States Air Force Reserves and moved to Bartlesville in 1957 to begin a career with Phillips Petroleum Company. At Phillips, he worked first as a mechanical engineer, then as a systems analyst, project leader and manager of professional development.
After retiring from Phillips in 1986, Roger worked as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma State and Rogers State, and as a consultant for the Tulsa Technology Center. He also served as chair for the local Civitan club among other offices. He chaired the Washington County Democratic Party for six years, and he served as a ToP facilitator with the global Institute of Cultural Affairs. He worked on numerous community projects, including Meals on Wheels, the Washington/Nowata County Nutrition Project and the construction of the fully accessible Civitan Park on Silver Lake Road. With his neighborhood Disciples Christian Church, he extended this work in a range of efforts that included tackling local homelessness and making three mission trips to Nicaragua and Honduras to help with fundamental issues like access to clean water. He also sang in the choir, served as a deacon, elder and played a leadership role in the church's cornerstone Modern Literature Class.
Though a lifetime study of theology, team-building and problem-solving skills went into everything he did, those who knew Roger will remember him for his humanity and vulnerability.
Roger worked hard to take pleasure in life and share that pleasure with those around him. In his final weeks, he saw all of his great-grandchildren, visibly delighting in their antics. One memory that will always stand out is his trademark deep-voiced cooing as he held Kyzen, just one week old at the time, asking the child, ""So what do you think of this world?""
Roger is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Jeanne Young.
He is survived by his wife Mary Alexander, sisters Charlotte Christensen and Sharon Alexander, his sister-in-law Treva Wiseman, son James McGraw and his wife Karen, son Danny Alexander and his wife Lauren, daughter Lynnette Nelson and her husband Don, son Kent Chafin, and daughter Jennifer Chafin; grandchildren Randy Martin and his wife Lina, Dylan Chafin, Sarah Funck and her husband David, Cory Chafin, Trionna Alexander, Alyson Tingler and her husband Kevin, Molly Johnson and her husband Cody, Josh McGraw and his wife Ashley; great-grandchildren Carter Funck, Nevaeh Funck, Lana Martin, Kyzen Chafin, Avery Tingler, Ryan Tingler and Maddie Johnson; many nieces, nephews and cousins and his beloved dog Deacon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those so moved should send donations to either the Disciples Christian Church of Bartlesville, Oklahoma or any of the organizations Roger supported.
Memorial Services will be officiated by Pastor Scott Taylor at Disciples Christian Church on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 1:30 p.m., 5800 Douglas Lane, Bartlesville, OK.
Published in Examiner-Enterprise from Sept. 18 to Oct. 18, 2016
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