Keith Rogers Hornell, New York Obituary

Keith Rogers

Keith Milton Rogers, 77, of Palmiter Road, passed away peacefully, Friday (July 26, 2019) at St James Mercy Hospital. He was born in Yonkers, NY, November 2, 1941, the son of late Rev. Albert Nash Rogers and late Janette (Loofboro) Rogers. He graduated from Alfred Almond Central School "Class of 1959". He met his wife Donna at the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Denver, where Rev. Rogers was the minister. As the story goes, Donna's cookies brought them together, and they were married one year later on November 26, 1964. He served in the Coast Guard for 23 years and it took Keith and his family all over the United States living in Tennessee, Alaska, Florida, Maine, Connecticut, and New York. Retirement brought them to Alfred in 1984. Keith and Donna took over the care of Alfred Rural Cemetery. A unique job, he was a thoughtful groundskeeper and superintendent for 21 years. He loved working there; he always stopped and talked to all who came, and he would say, "I am privileged to be the last one to let you down." He is survived by his loving wife Donna R. (Stephan) Rogers whom he was married to for 54 years. Keith and Donna had three children; Jenni (Michael) Peters, Julie Seymour, Jason (Heather) Rogers. Twelve grandchildren; Emma and Grace Peters, Natalie, Nicole, Joe, Joshua, Caleb and Zoey Seymour, Jaden, Devin, Avery, and Quinn Rogers. He is survived by his brother Brian (Carol) Rogers, and sister Cindy (Steve) Rogers Rudolph. Creative and talented, Keith could make or repair just about anything. Tool talk and tinkering made his day. He drove a purple dune buggy in the '70s, motorcycle in Maine, and a snowplow in New York. He loved his trucks, could operate a Kubota, and had a thing for lawnmowers. His puppies gave him joy. Keith was helpful, resourceful, kind, and always smiling. Indeed, a great way to be! After the diagnosis of Frontal Temporal Dementia, he requested his body to be sent to the Rochester Medical School to help the further study of his illness. The family will be present 2–5 pm Saturday, August 10, 2019, at the Bender - Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 354 Canisteo Street in Hornell, where a Memorial Service and Military Honors will be at 5:00 pm, with Rev. Patricia Bancroft, officiating. Burial will be in Alfred Rural Cemetery at a later date. To send a remembrance, please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com, or on Facebook @brownpowersfh, the family is being assisted by director Chester A. Gosper IV. Due to allergies, the family requests no flowers to be sent, consider a donation to the Alfred Rural Cemetery, PO Box 12, Alfred Station, NY. 14803. The family would like to thank the staff at Elderwood Nursing in North Hornell, St James Mercy Hospital. Additional thanks to Mary (Keith's excellent caregiver, who came when needed) and David (who came once a week for a chat or a ride).
November 2, 1941 - July 26, 201911/02/194107/26/2019
Share Obituary:

Share a memory

Add to your memory
Photos/Video
Candle
Mementos

Obituary

Keith Milton Rogers, 77, of Palmiter Road, passed away peacefully, Friday (July 26, 2019) at St James Mercy Hospital. He was born in Yonkers, NY, November 2, 1941, the son of late Rev. Albert Nash Rogers and late Janette (Loofboro) Rogers. He graduated from Alfred Almond Central School "Class of 1959". He met his wife Donna at the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Denver, where Rev. Rogers was the minister. As the story goes, Donna's cookies brought them together, and they were married one year later on November 26, 1964. He served in the Coast Guard for 23 years and it took Keith and his family all over the United States living in Tennessee, Alaska, Florida, Maine, Connecticut, and New York. Retirement brought them to Alfred in 1984. Keith and Donna took over the care of Alfred Rural Cemetery. A unique job, he was a thoughtful groundskeeper and superintendent for 21 years. He loved working there; he always stopped and talked to all who came, and he would say, "I am privileged to be the last one to let you down." He is survived by his loving wife Donna R. (Stephan) Rogers whom he was married to for 54 years. Keith and Donna had three children; Jenni (Michael) Peters, Julie Seymour, Jason (Heather) Rogers. Twelve grandchildren; Emma and Grace Peters, Natalie, Nicole, Joe, Joshua, Caleb and Zoey Seymour, Jaden, Devin, Avery, and Quinn Rogers. He is survived by his brother Brian (Carol) Rogers, and sister Cindy (Steve) Rogers Rudolph. Creative and talented, Keith could make or repair just about anything. Tool talk and tinkering made his day. He drove a purple dune buggy in the '70s, motorcycle in Maine, and a snowplow in New York. He loved his trucks, could operate a Kubota, and had a thing for lawnmowers. His puppies gave him joy. Keith was helpful, resourceful, kind, and always smiling. Indeed, a great way to be! After the diagnosis of Frontal Temporal Dementia, he requested his body to be sent to the Rochester Medical School to help the further study of his illness. The family will be present 2–5 pm Saturday, August 10, 2019, at the Bender - Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 354 Canisteo Street in Hornell, where a Memorial Service and Military Honors will be at 5:00 pm, with Rev. Patricia Bancroft, officiating. Burial will be in Alfred Rural Cemetery at a later date. To send a remembrance, please visit www.brownandpowersfuneralhomes.com, or on Facebook @brownpowersfh, the family is being assisted by director Chester A. Gosper IV. Due to allergies, the family requests no flowers to be sent, consider a donation to the Alfred Rural Cemetery, PO Box 12, Alfred Station, NY. 14803. The family would like to thank the staff at Elderwood Nursing in North Hornell, St James Mercy Hospital. Additional thanks to Mary (Keith's excellent caregiver, who came when needed) and David (who came once a week for a chat or a ride).

To plant a tree in memory of Keith Rogers, please visit our Tribute Store.

Events

Aug
10
Visitation
Saturday, August 10 2019
02:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Bender - Brown & Powers Funeral Home
354 Canisteo St
Hornell, NY 14843
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail
Aug
10
Service
Saturday, August 10 2019
05:00 PM
Bender - Brown & Powers Funeral Home
354 Canisteo St
Hornell, NY 14843
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail