Dr. Hugh Rogers

FARMINGTON

Dr. Hugh Chilton Rogers, Jr.
March 19, 1936 - Dec. 24, 2009
Hugh Chilton Rogers, 73, of Farmington, died peacefully at his home in Farmington on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. He was born in Kansas City, Mo., on March 19, 1936, to Hugh Chilton Rogers Sr. and Georgia Parks Rogers. He was raised in Fort Smith, Ark.
He received a B.S. degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., an M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans La., and U.S. Air Force Flight Surgeon status at Aerospace Medical School at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Following the service, he returned to Tulane for his residency in Urology.
He honorably served in U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1966, receiving the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service in Southeast Asia and Vietnam.
Hugh was drawn to the Four Corners in July 1970 by a childhood interest in archaeology, was recruited by San Juan County Hospital and opened his private practice as the first urologist in Farmington. He also contracted with Indian Health Service and worked with Navajo patients to develop a culturally tailored approach to health care. He retired from his practice in 1998.
Hugh had a passion for the people of the area and was a lifelong learner, studying the petroglyphs and Navajo culture of the San Juan Basin with his good friend, Jim Copeland, Senior Archaeologist at the Bureau of Land Management. Hugh also had a love of the outdoors, which he shared with his good friend, Dr. Avon Flaniken of Farmington.
Following retirement from his medical practice, Hugh taught classes about Navajo customs and culture for the San Juan College Encore Program. He always appreciated the enthusiasm of his students.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh Chilton Rogers Sr. and Georgia Parks Rogers; and his sister, Mary Elizabeth Bowers and her husband, Charles Bowers.
He is survived by Elizabeth Johnson Rogers, his loving wife of 52 years; son, David Hugh Rogers and his wife, Jenny Nuuttila, of Farmington; nephew, Chuck Bowers and his wife, Cheryl Bowers, of Kansas City, Kan.; niece, Karen Bowers Gemmill and her husband, Phil Gemmill, also of Kansas City, Kan.
Hugh's family would like to give special thanks to Northwest New Mexico Hospice in Farmington for their loving care during the last part of his illness, and also to the Farmington Public Library for the "Let There be Light" award presented in his honor during the Winter Solstice on December 21.
Friends and acquaintances are invited to help celebrate his life during a memorial service at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at San Juan Country Club, 5775 Country Club Drive, in Farmington.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that contributions be made to either the Farmington Public Library Foundation, P.O. Box 1848, Farmington, NM 87499, or to Northwest New Mexico Hospice, 608 Reilly Ave., Farmington, NM 87401
Those wishing to send condolences may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com.
Arrangements are with Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St., in Farmington; (505) 325-8688.