Roy Dale Rogers

Roy Dale Rogers passed away peacefully at his home in Dewey, Oklahoma, on April 27, 2026, surrounded by the place and the people he loved most. He was 71 years old.

Roy, or as his friends knew him, Bear, was born on February 9, 1955, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Golden and Bertha Rogers. As the ninth of ten children, Roy was raised in a home full of life, laughter, and constant activity. That kind of upbringing leaves its mark on a person, and in Roy’s case, it shaped him into someone who never met a stranger and never let anyone go without feeling welcomed.

Family was at the center of Roy’s world. He didn’t just love having family around—he made sure they came. It wasn’t uncommon for him to start cooking and then have his wife, Rhonda, pick up the phone and pass along his message: “We’re cooking dinner—y’all better get over and get some food!” And they came, because they knew there would always be a place for them. Roy would stand in the kitchen or nearby, making sure everyone had a full plate before he ever fixed one for himself. That was just who he was—always thinking of others first.

Growing up, Roy had a streak of mischief that his family never forgot. His younger sister Renie often told the story of the time they decided to cook a can of Spam over a campfire. Knowing Roy’s tendencies, she hid the lighter before they gathered wood—but Roy had already seen where she put it. While Renie was off collecting kindling, Roy retrieved the lighter and tried to get the fire going on his own, nearly setting more than just their little cooking spot ablaze. What started as a moment of panic turned into one of the many stories that would be told over and over again, always ending in laughter.

There was also the summer days at Mead Pond—a place the kids were strictly told to stay away from because of the snakes. But rules can be hard to follow when you’re young, hot, and surrounded by siblings who are just as curious as you are. They would sneak off to swim and make it back home just in time, thinking they’d gotten away with it—until their parents took one look at their tangled hair and ashy faces and asked, “Did you all go to Mead Pond today?” One by one, they shook their heads no, though the truth was written all over them. It was just another chapter in a childhood full of adventure, shared closely with the siblings he loved so deeply.

As the years passed, Roy never lost that playful spirit, but what stood out even more was his steady, giving nature. He found joy in the simple things—fishing for crappie, tending to his vegetable garden, and spending quiet moments at home. Even in his later years, when his health made things more difficult and he needed oxygen, Roy could still be found outside, caring for his garden the best he could. It was something he loved, and he held onto it.

He also shared a special bond with his two dogs, Janci and Jazz. If you were looking for Roy, there was a good chance you’d find him in his recliner, with the two of them curled up nearby, all three enjoying a well-earned nap.

Roy leaves behind his loving wife, Rhonda Rogers; his children, Sha’Rhonda Payne, Donnell Payne, Victoria Payne, Terry Spurgeon, Sara Rose, Tamara Gillett, Stephanie Shores, and Jacob Spurgeon; his grandchildren, Alysha Hutchinson, Marcus Payne, Jordan Payne, Samara Shores, Eli Shores, Elisha Gillett, and James Gillett; four great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Mable June, Myliam Ray, and Renie Darcel.

He was welcomed into rest by his parents, Golden and Bertha Rogers, and his siblings, Eugene, Patricia Ann, Erma Jean, Michael Leon, Patsy Louise, and Wayne Elliot.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 6720 E. Adams Blvd., Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Roy will be remembered in the stories that continue to be told, in the meals shared around family tables, and in the quiet ways he showed up for the people he loved. His life was not measured in grand gestures, but in the steady, everyday care he gave so freely—and that is where his legacy lives on.

Cremation Arrangements have been entrusted to Simplicity Burial & Oklahoma Cremation Centers. Friends and family may leave condolences and kind words of comfort at https://www.simplicityburialcremation.com