Tommy Joe Rogers

There is a Papa sized hole in our lives. Papa was loving and fair in his nature, but no one wanted to disappoint Papa, and we are all better people for it. Tommy Joe Rogers grew up in a time that required accountability. Born in 1936 in a cabin in Village, Arkansas, he and his family picked cotton, rode in a wagon drawn by a horse until he was 10, and scratch out a subsistence from the Arkansas soil, all the while being surrounded by extended family and friends in a nurturing and playful environment. Playing spades and dominoes over iced tea and a banquet of com bread, black eyed peas and greens, it is doubtful that he ever knew want. The baby of the family, Tom, grew up in a new era. In 1958, as a student at Magnolia High School, he met Donna Teis. They eloped and married at the ages of 18 and 17. Moving from Dallas, to Fort Worth and to Greenville, Texas, they welcomed 4 children in 5 years, Cheryl, Don, Suzy and Cindy. 

The young family moved to Arlington in 1966 and Tom took a position as a manager at Southwestern Bell where he excelled. He had successful ventures with Southwestern Bell, as a Real Estate Broker, and ultimately with AT&T; however, he struggled with alcoholism. In the 1980's, he found love and redemption with his loving wife Alice and his new daughter Emily, as well as a calling to help himself and others with Alcoholics Anonymous. 30 years of sobriety and 40 years of marriage to Alice brought a peace to Tom that he shared with those he loved and cared for. 

Tom is survived by his wife, Alice, his children, his 13 grandchildren, and his 15 great-grandchildren to whom he leaves his legacy of love and gratitude.