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Thelma May Rodgers passed from this life on February 26, 2022, at the age of 86.
Thelma was born on September 23, 1935, in Pawnee, Oklahoma the daughter of Royal and Christine (Barnes) Watson. Thelma grew up in Skedee and attended school in Pawnee later gaining her GED at the age of 65. Soon after she completed her education Thelma was united in marriage to Rayon Garrison Hall and to that union there are nine children Rita, Cherlyn, Larry, Joyce, Barbara, Mike, Debbie, Robert and Peggy. They resided in the Amarillo area and worked at several local places including the hospital and Maywoods building cabinets. Later on, June 7, 1968, Thelma was married to Emmitt Matthew Rodgers in Ft. Worth and to that union there is one, daughter Carol. They made their home in Amarillo until 1973, when Thelma and Emmitt moved to Pawnee, Oklahoma and purchased her parents' home. Thelma worked at MunsingWear in Pawnee as well as private health care for many years. In 1981, Thelma and Emmitt operated Pawnee Ready Mix for many years later expanding their operation into Cleveland. Thelma also volunteered as an EMT for the City Pawnee from March of 1982 till March of 2010, being the first female EMT in Pawnee. Following the death of Emmitt, Thelma operated the company until 2009 when she sold the company.
Thelma loved working in the garden, growing flowers and sewed many things for her kids. Going to the lake was also enjoyable and great memories. Going to church, caring for others was always things she loved doing.
Survivors include her eight children, Rita Buford of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Cherlyn Dale of Perry, Oklahoma, Joyce Wright of Ft. Worth, Texas, Mike Hall and his wife Dawn of Bluffton, South Carolina, Debbie Warnock of Pawnee, Oklahoma, Robert Hall of Pawnee, Oklahoma, Peggy Guthrie and her husband Jeff of Pawnee, Oklahoma, Carol Crider and her husband Larry of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; stepson Gary Rodgers of Amarillo, Texas; three siblings, Orbie Watson of Perry, Oklahoma, Estelle Grimes of East Norriton, Pennsylvania and her twin sister Velma Hotson of Covington, Oklahoma; 33 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren and two great great grandsons and a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Emmitt Rodgers, two children Larry Hall, Barbara Cooper, two stepchildren Karen O'Neal, Sandra Blazak, four siblings Gene Watson, Johnny Watson, Chuck Watson, Benny Watson, one granddaughter Whitney Rodgers
Services will be held 2:00 pm, Thursday, at the Lakeside Event Center in Pawnee, Oklahoma with Pastor Bill Spears officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Cemetery. Poteet Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. Friends and family may visit an online guest book and memorial page for Thelma at www.poteetfuneralhome.com.