Member Spotlight, Roy Rogers

 
Roy Rogers was born in Poteet, Texas, and grew up on a farm and ranch.  His family raised cattle, hogs, and milk cows, goats and horses.  His granddad gave him a horse when he was three years old and from that young beginning, he rode nearly every day until he was 40 years old, moved to town and didn’t have room for horses. 
 
Roy was married to Pat for 54 years before her passing in 2013.  He and Pat had 2 sons and 2 daughters, and 3 granddaughters and 3 grandsons.  They lost one daughter in a car/train accident.  “My family was my main objective,” he says.
 
His friends describe him as friendly, loving, quiet and faithful.  “And I’m hard of hearing,” Roy adds with a grin.  And he loves to play cards.  He has the most fun with his friends and family playing games (42 was mentioned, but Pitch has become a new favorite.)  “Doing family stuff is what I enjoy,” Roy declares.
 
After college, where he studied Ag Ed, Roy worked for the Soil Conservation Service, a part of the USDA.  Later he bought out an Exxon agency in Taylor.  He distributed gas, and ran 2 convenience stores and 2 service stations.  He retired in 2000.  He liked best working with the people.  “You run into all types of people, and learn to deal with them,” Roy says.  He feels his Exxon business was his second biggest success.  His biggest was raising his beautiful family.
 
Roy and Pat joined the church in 1975.  His mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. George Busby, were already members of the church.  Roy appreciates the friendliness of Taylor FUMC.  Roy adds, “I like the people.  They make you feel welcome.” His two favorite hymns are “Amazing Grace”, and “In the Garden”.  He was raised in a Baptist church, and these are hymns they sang.
 
Roy would like to travel to Wyoming and the western part of the United States, but he admits he is not much of a traveler.  He likes New Mexico, and used to go to Ruidoso and listen to music.  They had a festival there with old bands, and he and Pat would dance Western dance and the two-step.  Together, they won many contests as best dancers.
 
In fact, dancing was a favorite past time for Pat and Roy. “We loved it,” Roy remembers. They started dancing the day they met at SW Texas.     And they were selected by their class to be representatives for Frontier Days.  They wore matching shirts and dresses at the special weekends, and rodeos.
 
Roy taught his kids to dance as well.  His daughter, Trisha Copeland, fondly remembers learning to dance by standing on her daddy’s feet.  She reports her mom and dad had been dancing as long as she could remember.
 
Another thing Roy loves is the outdoors.  Roy was an avid gardener before his back started giving him trouble and he still loves it.  He likes to grow flowers and vegetables: tomatoes, squash, and bougainvilleas.  Also, he spent many a happy hour hunting with his sons and grandkids.  They would take his hunting dog, a Brittainy Spaniel, out to hunt deer, dove, and quail.
 
And his hidden talent is that he can yodel – well at least, sing.  He once sang “Lovesick Blues” for the 4H Club competition and won third place!  He loves music and singing.  Get Roy to demonstrate his yodeling, er, singing skills for you!  Don’t let that quiet exterior fool you!  He has friendship and many talents to share.

Written by Robin McKinley