Obituary of Wanda Rogers

Wanda Arvilla (King) Rogers was born to Ransom King, Sr. and Essie (Scott) King at their home on the family farm near Licking, Missouri on June 19, 1932. She died in her home on that same farm on June 5, 2014 at the age of 81 years. As a child, Wanda walked the two and a half miles to Shipp School. She later attended Licking High School. She loved school and spoke frequently about her appreciation for getting an education. Wanda enjoyed spending time with her parents, brothers, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins who lived nearby. She shared many happy memories about the times they spent together. As a young woman, Wanda worked at her mother’s restaurant in Licking. It was called The Corner Café. They often prepared meals not just for the local folks, but for the WPA crews building area roads. On January 17, 1953 Wanda married Clark Rogers. They rather quickly became the parents of five children. They were both known for their willingness to work hard. Together. They milked dairy cows, gardened, had pigs and chickens, and managed to raise their children on Clark’s income from the pallet mill. When the children were all nearing high school age, Wanda went to work at Montauk State Park Lodge as a cook. She also worked at Cronies Restaurant in Licking. She and her daughter, Brenda Gorman, bought the Coffee Pot Restaurant in Licking in 2000 while it was located in the old Travel Inn Café building and then bought the former Cronies building in 2008. Wanda worked at the restaurant until she had a stroke in 2009, at the age of 77. Wanda’s hands and mind were always busy. She loved to quilt, crochet, sew, read, do Sudoku puzzles, and put together jigsaw puzzles. Her home features a magnificent display of her sewing, quilting and crocheting talents. She loved making quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also crocheted many colorful rag rugs which may be found in numerous homes around the area. Wanda enjoyed working in the garden and canning. She was especially proud and happy when she could do her own yard work. She built many beautiful flower gardens in her yard and worked very hard to keep them up. Wanda loved her dog, Naomi, that she adopted from the Healing Paws program through the Texas County Animal Shelter and the South Central Correctional Center in 2012. Wanda loved animals and took good care of her beloved dog and cat. Until recently, she kept a pony for the great-grandchildren to ride when visiting her. Wanda was well known in the area for her culinary expertise. She was an excellent baker and cook. She enjoyed hosting family meals and get-togethers. She often baked Clark’s favorite cookies and pies. Among the most requested dishes from the grandchildren were her chicken and dumplings and blackberry cobbler. Recently, she loved to bake cookies and would often do so just in case some of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came by. Wanda was a professed Christian and was blessed by attending Montauk Baptist Church when her health permitted. She had attended Shipp Community Church as a child and as a youth adult attended the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Licking. She kept her Bible near her comfortable chair and would spend quiet times reading God’s Word. Wanda leaves to rejoice and remember the significance of her life, her son, Bruce Rogers and fiancé, Marilyn Rector of Licking, Missouri; four daughters, Brenda Gorman and husband, Jim of Licking, Missouri, Katie Whitson and husband, Todd of Springfield, Missouri, Treva Satterfield and husband, Terry of Salem, Misssouri and Cindy Million of Springfield, Missouri; her eleven grandchildren, Kathy Warnol and husband, Ryan, Lisa Curtis and husband, Curtis, Doug Gorman and girlfriend, Brittany Southworth, Aaron Gorman and wife, Shalina, Roger Whitson and fiancé, Leann Hunter, David Whitson and wife, Elaina, Sam Rogers, Joe Satterfield and wife, Larissa, Jennifer Tilley and husband, Aaron, Lacey Daniels and husband, Caleb, and Abbey Million. She also leaves thirty-three great-grandchildren; four nephews, Ransom, Charlie, Fred and Robert King; two nieces, Bonnie Bonin and Rosemary Kuykendall; and a sister-in-law, Marie Garrison. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brothers, Jasper and Ransom King, Jr.; an infant sister, Elise; a great-granddaughter, Cassie Gorman; her mother and father-in-law, Hub and Clara Rogers; and two sisters-in-law, Jewell England and Eula Creech.