Roger Delando Meyler was born on May 18th 1945 in Savana La Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica to John and Ruby Meyler. They had five children, Tony, Roger, Nadine, Geraldine and Joan. Roger attended Savana La Mar prep school and Manning’s High School. While dating Mabel Munro in high school, Roger was known to drive a convertible Triumph, that the sound of the muffler was a hallmark of his arrival. After Graduating high school, Roger went into the family business for a few years before migrating to the United States in 1966. He married his high school sweetheart, Mabel Munro, in November 1967. Roger and Mabel lived in Brooklyn NY where Roger worked for the gas company and later became a driving instructor. They had two children Roger Jr. and Nigel before moving back to Jamaica to join the family business. Roger eventually moved back to Brooklyn NY in 1974 and became a truck driver. He moved his family back to Brooklyn NY in 1976 and later had their third child Nicole. With so many friends and family in Brooklyn NY, Roger was known for his love of music, friends, as well as basement and back yard get togethers. Living in NY, Roger also developed a love for the Jets football team and the Mets baseball team. With very few successful seasons Roger loyalty was tested year in and year out but it never waivered.
Roger and his family lived in Brooklyn for 9 years before moving to New Jersey in 1983. Roger and Mabel eventually joined the Manning’s Past Student Association and for several years worked and assisted in functions to raise money for their alma mater. While in New Jersey, Roger also developed a love of cooking and was known amongst neighbors and family for his BBQ and Jerk. Whenever he was asked for the secret to his recipes, with a laugh he would reply… “love baby.” Just how much love Roger put into his cooking can be summed up in the preparation. Roger would make his rice and peas from scratch, hand squeezing his coconut milk, soaking his peas and season the meat overnight. His weekend BBQ’s were well known, so much that his children’s friends would come over even when his children were not home, to get some of that good food. Everyone in the neighborhood would know the good food was coming when they saw Roger in his blue barbecue shorts. Equal to his barbecue was his Sunday morning Jamaican breakfast with his “special johnny cakes,” which also attracted friends and family. This was so regular that his children, nieces and nephews called it the “breakfast club.”
In 1994 Roger went into business for himself with his own truck. Roger and Mabel relocated to Florida where Roger expanded his business to 3 trucks. Relocating to Florida allowed Roger to entertain year round. With children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews with their children, visiting Central Florida and the sites, Roger was happy to put that “love baby” recipe to use over and over again for the benefit of everyone. Roger truly enjoyed watching others enjoy his food. Roger also prided himself on his trees baring fruit and would send his mangoes and persimmons to everyone in the neighborhood. His fruits even made it to store owners, bank tellers and others in the community as well as his friends and family in Georgia, New Jersey and NY.
With 36 years driving trucks (on the road,) it is worth mentioning that Roger was a walking GPS. With the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, there was not a state in the United States that Roger was not familiar with. When meeting new people, once Roger found out where you were from, he would run down a list of streets, highways and routes on how to get there, with landmarks and stores as markers, where to turn left, and when to turn right, with amazing accuracy. After his retirement in 2010, Roger focused on taking care of his wife, Mabel, once she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Roger became Mabel’s caretaker and doted on his wife on a daily basis up until his sudden passing on November 22nd 2021.
Roger Meyler loved his family, life and laughter. There was not a person Roger would meet in this world that he did not like, and that did not like him back in return. His life was full of love and laughter. With his passing, Roger leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Mabel, his sons Roger Jr. and Nigel, his daughter Nicole. His 7 grandchildren Jeneya, Peyton, Shaun, Sophia, Jah-el, Eva and Greyson. His 1 Great Grandchild Wynter. His Mother Ruby. His sisters Nadine, Geraldine, Joan and Dionne. His brother Norman. His nieces and nephews and a host of other cousins, extended family and friends in the United States, Canada, the UK and Jamaica.
May his legacy continue in his children and grandchildren and his soul Rest in Peace.
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