Orson William Rogers passed away on June 9, 2024, at home in Joseph City, Arizona.  He was born February 1, 1929, in Joseph City, the third son of George Walter and Malinda Porter Rogers.  He married Elaine Turley on February 9, 1949, in the Mesa Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They raised their family in Joseph City.

Orson was an intelligent and hardworking man with a great sense of humor.  He could find an adventure in almost any experience.  He loved to see new places and learn new things.  He had obtained employment at the First National Bank of Holbrook even before he graduated from Holbrook High School.  Over the course of his fifty-five-year career in banking he was a posting machine operator, a teller, a cashier, a loan officer, a manager, and an operations/audit officer.  He eventually retired from Frontier State Bank.  His financial abilities carried over into many Church assignments as a ward or stake financial clerk.

When Orson was 11 years old his father died.  Orson and his siblings did everything they could to support their widowed mother.  Those strong family ties persisted and grew stronger over the years.  Orson had an ever-enlarging family circle that welcomed new family members and the friends of his children.  He will be remembered as a generous father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He and his wife provided a home for each of their mothers in their elderly years.

Orson was the epitome of a handy man.  He did everything from plumbing to framing to electrical work, and he did it well.  Neighbors said his barn would still be standing in the Millenium.  He was one of the last shade tree mechanics, fixing almost any car, truck, tractor, rototiller, or motorcycle – until the computer took over the automobile industry.   Orson's life was shaped by his childhood during the depression.  He believed in repair and fixing up or doing without.  He thought almost anything should be saved because it just might be useful in the future.

He enjoyed sports and was an avid JC Wildcat and BYU Cougar fan.  He played "church ball" on a Joseph City team that went to the All-Arizona church finals – and which inspired and added to his underappreciation of referees.  He enjoyed all genres of music from classical to big band.  He played sousaphone in the Holbrook High School band and from that time forward judged all  marching bands by whether they played John Phillip Sousa marches.  He played an excellent game of chess.  He was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Elks Club.  Orson provided hours of service in his Church and community in many ways to individuals and as a member of the Joseph City School Board.   He grew a garden so that he could give most of the vegetables away.  He paid special attention to the needs of widows.  He felt it was his special mission to take care of family graves in several cemeteries.  He was a man of integrity, honesty, reliability, and kindness.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Malinda Rogers, his wife Elaine Turley Rogers, his son, William Dale Rogers, his brothers Lawrence, Perlie, Raymond and Dale Rogers, and his sister Twila Blau.  He is survived by his daughter, Sandra, his son, George (Sue Ann), his daughter-in-law, Merlin, his sister, Nelda Moore, and his brother-in-law, Frank L. Turley and many nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.  He has 7 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Services will be held June 15, 2024, at 11 am in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on North Westover Avenue in Joseph City.  A viewing will take place from 9:30 to 10:45 am prior to the service at the Church.  Interment will be in the Joseph City Cemetery.