Ella Mae Rogers

Ella Mae Theresa Etter was born on August 29, 1920 to Cecilia Salzman Etter and Samuel Louis Etter. She was the fourth of five children born to the couple and the youngest child to live to adulthood. Family genealogy records do not specify that Ella was born in LaCoste, Texas, though she considered it her birthplace and childhood home.

Ella clearly had fond memories of her early childhood. Though the family owned both a house in town and a farm; she spoke most often of the time spent on the farm. She often spoke of her pony, “Loney Pony”; of climbing a tree with a jar of peanut butter - swiped from the kitchen pantry - and her stomach ache from eating the whole jar. She was quite proud that she actually rode a horse to and from school and could easily recall that her friend George would unsaddle her pony every morning when she arrived and saddle it again for her every afternoon for her ride home. She spoke of her brother Leo’s unsuccessful attempts to play the violin, and the joy she felt while sitting in her father’s lap. She was especially close to her brother Herman and was always fond of his well practiced sense of humor.

Ella experienced loss at an early age. When Ella was only four she lost her only sister, Elsie, who died at age 20 months. Ella’s father died when she was only seven. By the time she was twelve the family had lost their property in LaCoste and moved to San Antonio. The depression years and those following could not have been easy for a widow with three children, but Ella’s children never recall hearing her complain of hardship. Ella graduated from G. W. Brackenridge High School in San Antonio at age 16. The date she met Leroy Rogers is lost but Ella kept a letter from him dated July, 1937; they were married on April 16, 1940.

By late 1946 the couple had moved with their son, Allen, to Houston where they lived in an apartment on Hardy Street above Leroy’s sister, Mildred, and her family. Later the couple moved their growing family of five to an apartment on Weiss Street. By 1952 they moved to the house on Kelley Street where their fourth child was born. Ella and Leroy remained devoted to their family and friends in San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country; as a result the family spent most holidays and vacations there.

Ella was primarily a homemaker until her daughters began high school. Initially she worked at the Houston Credit Bureau and later at Britt’s Department Store. Widowed before she was 59 and with her children grown, Ella enjoyed many travel adventures with her dear sister-in-law, Lenora. After Lenora’s passing Ella enjoyed participating in the Alter Society at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Tai Chi classes and woodworking lessons at Christ the King Church, and exercise classes at the YMCA. Once finances permitted, Ella may well have kept the Northline Palais Royal in business!

Ella continued to enjoy robust health until about age 85; with the help of care givers she was able to stay in her home until about age 88. Allen had moved to Pearland by then and very much wanted to have his mom near. Ella remained at The Hampton in Pearland until Allen’s health required that her care fall to Allen’s siblings. Ella’s family is extremely grateful to have found Autumn Grove Cottage – Heights and wish to thank especially Becky, Christina, Joelle, and Shannon for the love, care, and compassion they showed to both Ella and her family throughout Ella’s time there. Ella’s final decline began on Monday, September 16th and she slipped the surly bonds of earth, at age 93, on Saturday, September 21st – the same day Allen’s ashes were interred.

Ella was preceded in death by her husband Leroy, parents Cecilia and Edward, her brother Leo and his wife Wilma, brother Herman and his wife Jewel, and her life-long friends Daniel and Lena Andreas - all of the San Antonio area. She was also preceded in death by all of her husband’s siblings and their spouses. This was a fact that she found to be quite amazing.

Ella is survived by her daughter-in-law Mary Arnold Rogers, daughter Janet Rogers Pruetz and husband, Stephen, daughter Sharon Rogers Colotta and husband Samuel, son Stephen Rogers and wife Donna, grandchildren: Thomas Rogers, Stuart Wade Pruetz, Samuel Colotta Jr., Kelli Rogers Wimberly, Philip Colotta, Stephanie Pruetz Truong, Christopher Colotta, Sara Rogers, Erin Pruetz, Seth Rogers, and 13 great-grandchildren.