Coke County - Obituaries - UNCLE BILLIE RODGERS
Nov. 1928
Coke County, TX

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Contributed by Jo Collier <jomar@wcc.net>
May 2007

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The Observer/Enterprise
Robert Lee, Coke County, TX
July 21, 1989

Bronte Enterprise, Nov. 1928
"Uncle Billie" Rodgers obit


Everybody in and around Bronte was made sad Monday morning as
it became know that "Uncle Billie" Rodgers, as he was affectionately
called by all who knew him, had died Sunday night, Nov. 10, 1928-
for he was widely kown and everybody was his friend.

W. H. Rodgers was born in Nashville, Tennessee, October 22, 1846.
His parents died when he was a small boy. He came to Texas in 1868,
when he was 22 years old.June 4, 1868 he was married to Miss Martha 
Jane Doshier, who died March 21, 1912 at the age of 63 years. To this
union were born 9 children four of whom survive. The surviving children
were all present as follows: W. H. Rodgers, Clarendon; Mesdames C. J.
Jackson and M. A. Scott, both of Bronte; and A. E Rodgers, Lamesa.
There are 29 grandchilden and 23 great grandchildren. Six gradnsons and
grand-sons-in-law were pall bearers.

Deceased confessed Christ and became a member of the Church of
Christ early in life, and was a faithful memeber to the day of his
death. Hence it was befitting that his body was taken to the house of 
worship of the local Church of Christ where religious services were
conducted by Elder M. C. Brown of Robert Lee, an old-time friend of
deceased. A large concourse of friends of "Uncle Billie", both old and
young, were present with the children and grand children to mingle
their sorrow with the sorrowing relatives. Elder Brown spoke hopefully
of the future state of those who die in Christ and beautifully of his
dear old-time departed friend. The church congregation sang the hymns
that "Uncle Billie" had loved while he walked this earthly way, and the
beautiful, fragrant autumn flowers were piled all about, all of which
were suggestive of the fine splendid life of the old pioneer and hero
who had spent his long years here in this Western country. The passing
of "Uncle Billie" was the going of another of those sturdy ole 
pioneers throughout the West, who left the comforts of civilization in
the old states and came to this far Western country and gave themselves
to the task of establishing civilization here, where to that time the
buffalo roamed unmolested and the red man reined. "Uncle Billie" was
one of those who participated in the organization of Coke County. And
here he chose to make his home and spent the days and years of his
strength; where he grew old and it was here that he paid the last debt
of mortal kind, and therefore, it is here that his body will sleep in
the soil of the land he loved beneath the Western stars, and the soft
south winds will chant a constant requiem over his face of his last
sleep, until the graves shall give up their dead.

At the request of the children the writer spoke at the church
following Elder Brown. "Uncle Billie" was spoken of in a four-fold
way: As an aged man; as a pioneer; as a father; as a friend. Personally,
the writer feels deeply the passing away of "Uncle Billie" for he quite
frequently visited our office and we had delightful conversations with
him. But he is gone now and shall come our way no more, but with his
children and grand children and hosts of friends we will cherish his
memory and at every recollection of his name we will pause and breathe
a prayer of thanksgiving that we knew him and that he was our friend.
D. M. West.

Note:  D. M. West was owner and editor of the newspaper.

Permission granted by The Observer/Enterprise for publication
in the Coke County TXGenWeb Archives.