John Fields Rogers Jr.

John Fields (John F) Rogers, Jr., age 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 20, 2022. Born in Morris, Alabama, John F was raised on land that was homesteaded by his great- great-grandfather and spent the majority of his life nurturing and earning a living on that land. John F attended Morris public schools until the age of 16, when he left to enlist in the United States Navy out of a desire to assist in World War II. By the time he became an active service member, the war had ended. After serving two years, he was able to return to Mortimer Jordan High School in 1948 to complete his secondary education while remaining in the United States Naval Reserve. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Faye Trotter, who he married in 1950 and stood faithfully beside for 67 years until her passing in 2017. The two shared many unique experiences together, including hosting monthly Rook card game clubs, watching old Western movies, and starting and maintaining their own Rogers Dairy Farm in the 1950s. John F was honorably discharged from the Naval Reserve in 1953. They raised their three children on the dairy farm with countless stories to tell while ultimately instilling in them the value of hard work. After 20 years of running the dairy, John F made the difficult decision to shut the farm down in order to begin mining coal. Shortly thereafter John formed a joint partnership with the Q&R Coal Company in the early 1980s, and John F became skilled in the art of coal mining. In 1985, he decided to utilize what was left of the dairy farm and turned a retirement dream and an old cow pasture into the Turkey Creek Driving Range, which has continued on as a place to refine golf swings to this day. Here he taught several of his grandchildren how to drive for the first time while picking up golf balls in the field. He had a heart for animals of all kinds and took in countless stray cats and dogs over the years, giving them original names such as “Tom,” “Blackie,” and “Buddy.” John F was a true self-reliant American and felt that each individual should pull their own weight; he was an entrepreneur who exceeded expectations and believed, “You will never make as much money working for someone else as you will working for yourself.” He held deep respect for his country and its military. His love of Top Hat Barbeque, Louis L’Amour western novels, and family will not be forgotten. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Jewel Rogers; wife, Faye; and brother, Ray. He is survived by his brother, Kenneth (Eileen); his three children, Rebecca Jefcoat, Johnny (Lisa), and Jeff (Mary); his six grandchildren, Karenina Coley, Justin Coley, Shea Rogers, Victoria Bolus (Anthony), Thomas Rogers, and Hayden Rogers; great-granddaughter, Cynthia Bolus, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 27, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 1:00 PM. Services will take place at Gardendale Heritage Funeral Home located at 2214 Decatur Highway, Gardendale, AL, 35071 with burial at Morris Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Wounded Warriors, a local animal shelter, or to simply come visit the Turkey Creek Driving Range to remember his long life.

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John Fields Rogers Jr.

November 12, 1929 - December 20, 2022