Herman LeRoy "Roy" Rogers

ROY ROGERS

FIELDON - Herman LeRoy “Roy” Rogers, 83, died at 5:33 p.m., Sunday, November 23, 2025 in the Emergency Room at Jersey Community Hospital.

He was born on December 24, 1941 in Illiopolis, Illinois, the son of the late Herman Houston and Mary Helen Jane (Chance) Rogers. Roy grew up in Illiopolis, where he remained known by many throughout his life. 

He served briefly with the United States Air Force, and on April 11, 1959, he married the former Sharon Jane McDaniel in Niantic. Together, they built a loving family and a life filled with deep devotion, raising their four children with the same steady values Roy lived out every day.

Roy was employed as a machinist with Norfolk Southern Railway, a career that brought him and his family to Fieldon nearly 30 years ago. In total, he worked 33 years for the company, retiring in February of 2002. He was a perfectionist in the best sense of the word: self-taught, self-driven, and gifted with a rare skill set that set him apart in his trade.

Roy loved to fix things, and he was exceptionally good at it. His reputation spread quickly through the farming community, where he became the trusted “mister fix-it” who could repair just about anything. He never charged for his services, his payment was the gratitude, respect, and friendships that grew from the many hours spent helping others simply because he could.

In his younger years, Roy enjoyed motorcycles and stock car racing, winning a handful of first-place trophies that he remained proud of throughout his life. Whether he was rebuilding an engine, repairing a piece of machinery, or tinkering in his garage, Roy put time, care, and thought into everything he touched. He possessed a mechanical mind and a natural intelligence that people relied on and admired.

Surviving are his wife, Sharon Rogers of Fieldon; his four children, Kenneth Leroy Rogers and his significant other, Debbie Wicker, of Buffalo, Illinois; Laura Jayne Ontis and her husband, Walter, of Fieldon; Linda Sue Fry and her husband, James Sr., of Springfield; and John Franklin Rogers and his wife, Cathy, of Mechanicsburg;  fourteen grandchildren, Lance, Shawn, Kenny Jr., Travis, Shelbi, Levi Jr., Eric, Meagan, Raymond, Holly, Justin, Jordan, Jensen and Johnny Ray;  twenty-five great-grandchildren;  one great-great-grandson; two brothers, Bob Rogers of Taylorville and William “Bill” Rogers of Illiopolis;  a sister and brother-in-law, Ginger and Jim Gonzales of New Mexico; as well as two special friends, Shenan and Ernie Stephens. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Alice Rogers; and two sisters-in-law, June and Delores Rogers.

Memorial Visitation will be held from 4–7 p.m., Friday, December 12, 2025 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association.

Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com

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