Roger Rose

Celebration of life services for Roger T. Rose will be held on March 14th, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church United, 302 South 5th Street, Okeene, Oklahoma officiated by Jeff Hinton. Interment will be in the Alva Municipal Cemetery under the direction of Wilkinson Mortuary of Okeene.

Roger Thomas Rose, son of the late James T. and Mabel (Rogers) Rose was born June 26, 1938 near Aline, Oklahoma and passed away peacefully in his home on March 9, 2022 at the age of 83

Roger was the 12th born out of 14 kids. He lived with his family near Eagle Chief Creek until second grade when the family moved to Aline, Oklahoma. He went to Aline Public School till the 8th grade and dropped out to help provide for the family. Roger started working in his youth providing labor for various people plowing and acting as a nightwatchman for turkey farmers. Roger served his country proudly in the U.S. Navy from October of 1957 to March of 1962. He was a member of the local VFW.

Upon returning home from the military, Roger provided for his family working as a carpenter in the Alva, Oklahoma area. He moved to Lowell, Arkansas when work could not be found in Alva. Roger was a building superintendent and was most proud of his work building churches. He obtained his GED in his mid-50’s and proving to his whole family how it’s never too late to achieve any goal. Upon retirement in 2001, he moved to Okeene, Oklahoma to be closer to family. The family is proud to say Roger never missed a day of work. He ran tractor for his granddaughter the summer he turned 80 and was always volunteering to help the community in any way he could.

Roger married the love of his life, Stella E. (Beckwith) Rose on July 4, 1959. They made their home in Alva. They were married 60 years. Stella passed on December 11, 2019. When he married Stella, he became the father of Steven Wade and Allan Neal Hankey. The boys were five and two years of age at the time. Roger and Stella had twins Robert Lon and Robin Dawn on May 10, 1960. Robert passed October 18, 1961.

Preceding Roger in death are seven brothers, Mart, Everett, Carl, Charlie, Buster, Donald and Richard Rose and four sisters, Lavina Rich, Dorothy Young, Hope Ferrell and Rosalie Hatfield. Also, his wife Stella and sons Alan Hankey and Robert Rose and, one great granddaughter Elzie Cochran.

He leaves behind his son Steven Hankey and wife Melinda, of Settle, Washington, his daughter Robin Cochran and husband Mick of Okeene, his grandchildren, Kara Laubach and husband Brandon, Loni Schultz and husband Brandon and Mickey Cochran and wife, Reagan, Four Newman grandchildren and families, Three Hankey grandchildren and families. Twenty-One great grandchildren. And many friends and family.

Everybody loved Roger Rose. He was a kind man with the upmost honesty and integrity. His greatest delight was spending time with his children, grandchildren and their families. He loved spinning Stella around on the dance floor. He was an amazing fisherman and taught most of his grandkids how to bait their first hook. The man could bake anything with perfection. People always wanted whatever he brought to the potluck. He never missed Sunday school and church or a day at the Senior Citizens Center unless he was too sick to attend.

The family would like to thank the Okeene Senior Citizen friends, Valir Hospice Care, Dr. Cayci Brickman and all of the nursing staff at the Okeene Municipal Hospital for years of support throughout his finally years.