Gary Alvin Rodgers
4/11/1957 - 4/3/2022
Gary Alvin Rodgers, 64, a long-time resident of Lake Jackson, left this world and began his journey home on April 3rd, 2022 after a long fight with a glioblastoma brain tumor. He lost his life in the battle with glioblastoma, but ultimately gained the victory that was won in Christ.
Gary was born on April 11th, 1957 in Port Acres, Texas, the second of four children born to Minister James A. and Bettye Rodgers. The family moved throughout Texas as James served at many Church of Christ congregations. Gary called many cities in Texas home throughout his life, including Freeport, Lake Jackson, Cleburne, San Antonio, West Columbia, Del Rio, McAllen, and Goliad. Gary graduated from Del Rio High School in 1975 and went on to attend Sam Houston State University. In 1979 he married the love of his life, Alice West.
Gary was a man of great faith. He was a life-long active member of the Church of Christ. He will be remembered by many as a renaissance man. He was a powerful athlete, multi-talented musician, successful salesman and business owner, gifted speaker and storyteller, and avid outdoorsman. He played second base on softball teams that made it to the state championships. He played thousands of rounds of golf at Columbia Lakes and qualified to play in the Texas State Amateur Championship where Alice served as his caddie. He even beat professional golfer Fred Couples once! Gary was a member of the Common Chord a capella gospel quartet and sang at church and various functions around Lake Jackson. He played the trombone and the euphonium in the community band and Brazosport Symphony, and served as the President of the Symphony in the late 2010s. Gary worked many jobs in his life, from ranch hand, to mailman, to salesman, and worked for many years at Brazoria Valve and Fitting Co. before starting his own business, Rodgers and Associates. He served on the board of the International Society of Automation for many years. He was active in working with and supporting local youth through the Boys and Girls Club of Brazoria County. Gary loved to talk and made friends everywhere he went. His gift of gab led him to emcee events and parties, and even to become a wedding officiant. Gary was always happy to be outdoors, whether he was fishing, deer or dove hunting, or even just working on his ranch in Goliad. He lived by the phrase, "the more you do, the more you can do," and he took great pride in a hard day's work. Gary was such a selfless soul up to the day of his passing as he made sure his family had accepted that he was leaving on his next journey, knowing he was at peace and not afraid. His energy of positivity, kindness, and love will be missed until we meet again in the presence of our Lord.
Gary is preceded in death by his father, James A. Rodgers and his grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Alice West Rodgers, his daughter Leslie and her husband Andrew Myers, his grandson, Mason Myers, his mother, Bettye Rodgers, his siblings James Rodgers (Brenda), Cathy Majors (Gary), and Bryan Rodgers, and many nieces and nephews.
Gary's life will be celebrated at Lakewood Funeral Home on April 11th at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Gary Rodgers Glioblastoma Research Memorial Fund at https://giving.uth.edu/memorial
Obituary Provided By:
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