Jesse J. Rogers

Jesse J. Rogers, 67, of Southport, Fla., passed peacefully at his home Sunday, April 13, 2008, after an extended illness.

Mr. Rogers was born in Cincinnati on May 19, 1940, to the late Stanley and Carrie Rogers. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, where he met and married his loving wife, Joan Turner Rogers. After leaving the Air Force, he made the Panama City, Fla., area his permanent residence.

He then operated the MOJO service station on the corner of Jenks Avenue and 15th Street for several years. After leaving MOJO, he became associated with Sunshine Grocery Stores, where he managed the Sunshine Sputnik store at U.S. 231 and Harrison Avenue and the Cove Sunshine Store.

When Sunshine stores were sold, Mr. Rogers became employed by a small company called E.E. Bentley Insulation Co. Over the next 30 years, Jesse was instrumental in the successful development and growth of what is now known as Coastal Insulation Corp. in Panama City. He was widely known and loved by his co-workers, contractors and customers. He was a member of Kingswood Baptist Church of Southport and was the contractor of the recently built sanctuary, also overseeing the building of the new addition.

Over their 49 years of marriage, Jesse and Joan raised their children and built and sold several homes, and he still had plenty of time to be active in church, help others and enjoy the hobbies of building bird houses and fishing with his best friend and loving wife.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Turner Rogers; two sons, Johnny Rogers of Ringgold, Ga., and James Rogers and wife, Marie, of Dalkeith, Fla.; grandchildren, Josh Rogers of Columbus, Ga., Jessica Smith and husband, King, of Gainesville, Ga., Jason Rogers and girlfriend, Misty Trawick, of Southport and Jennifer Hall and husband, Jeremy, of Panama City; two brothers, Allen Rogers and wife, Beccy, of Clearfield, Utah, and Robert Rogers and wife, Beverly, of Amelia, Ohio; six sisters, Hazel Barrett and husband, Roy, of Hamilton, Ohio, Ethel Blachke and husband, David, of Covington, Ky., Georgia Sams and husband, William, of Goshen, Ohio, Glenda Lierman and husband, Greg, of Weatherford, Texas, Mary Lanter and husband, Edward, of Sharonville, Ohio, and Norma Loud and husband, James, of Hamilton, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James Rogers of Tampa, Fla., and Arthur Rogers of Navarre Beach, Fla.; and one sister, Ruth Rogers of Cincinnati. He leaves behind other extended family members and friends and three cats, Thomas, Munchkins and Mama Cat. He will be dearly missed by all.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today, April 16, 2008, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 17, 2008, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Virgil Tillman and the Rev. Jeff Newell officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be David Cassaday, Michael Cassaday, Chris Turner, Jeremy Turner, Wesley Boston, Warren Cash, Frank Tillerson, Winston Waller, Justin Kittley and Jacob Thele.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jesse’s name may be made to the Kingswood Baptist Church building fund, 9206 Kingswood Road, Southport, FL 32409; or to Covenant Hospice, 107 W. 19th St., Panama City, FL 32405.


Kent-Forest Lawn
Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
2403 Harrison Ave. 763-4694