Birth Date: 03/27/1929
Deceased Date: 03/21/2020
Ellen S. Rogers, 90, passed away on March 21 at Sunrise of Raleigh. She was born March 27, 1929 in Rocky Mount, daughter of Edgar Durant Skinner and Lillian Heilig Skinner.
Ellen graduated from Rocky Mount High School and went on to receive her B.S. degree in education from Woman’s College of Greensboro in 1951 and a library science degree from East Carolina in 1964. After agreeing to a blind date, Ellen met and later married R. Lee Rogers, Jr., her husband of 49 years. The newlyweds moved to Smithfield where Ellen taught English in the Johnston County school system and later was librarian at North Johnston High School. After retirement, Ellen enjoyed working at the Heritage Center in Smithfield and traveling extensively with her husband. Throughout her life she was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she started their first library.
Her 5’1” frame belied the presence of her voice, especially during bridge games, which she played weekly until recent years. She was a stickler for manners and grammar and was never one to waste (even—to the amusement of her grandchildren—refusing to rip wrapping paper so she could reuse it). She loved to bake and had a notorious sweet tooth to the very end. Most of all, she cherished—and was cherished by—her family, who will remember “Baba” with great love and affection.
Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, twin brother Ed Skinner, and brother Clarence Skinner. She is survived by a brother, Harold Skinner, of Hickory, NC; a daughter, Tricia Parker, and husband, David, of Raleigh, NC; and a son, Kenny Rogers, of Santa Barbara, CA. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Hunter Parker and wife, Sophie, of Portland, OR; Lawson Sivertson and husband, Erik, of Greenville, SC; Niklas Rogers of Oceanside, CA; Dylan Rogers of New York City, NY; and two great-grandsons, Jack and Will Sivertson.
A service will be held at a later date at First Presbyterian Church of Smithfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1159, Smithfield, NC 27577.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.parrishfh.com.
