Hoy Wayne Rogers

Hoy Wayne Rogers, 75 of Georgetown, passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2014 after suffering a massive stroke early in the week. Hoy was surrounded by his loving family and will be truly missed. Hoy's family and friends will gather for a time of visitation on Sunday, April 13, 2014 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel, 393 North IH 35, Georgetown. A service celebrating Hoy's life and his faith in his Lord and Savior will be held on Monday, April 14, 2014 at 2:00PM at the Gabriels Funeral Chapel. Honoring Hoy's memory serving as pallbearers will be: Miguel Bamberger, Noe Cortez, Darron Fleming, Doug Ragsdale, Don Raney, Dan Harkness, Pete Surette and Scott Shaver. Interment will follow at the Weir Community Cemetery, which is close to the farm Hoy so deeply cherished. Terry Ware of Monroe, Louisiana and longtime friend, Bob Payne will be directing the services. Hoy was born January 01, 1939 in a logging camp near Ashdown, Arkansas to the late Dee Franklin and Mildred Moore Rogers. At a young age Hoy and his family lived in Ingleside and Refugio, Texas where his father worked in the oilfield. It was at Refugio High School where Hoy ran track and played football winning a State Championship. He attended Victoria Junior College where his squad won a National Championship in track and field; Hoy also was a member of the football team at Victoria. Hoy then attended Northeast Louisiana State University on a track and field scholarship where he set and held the school shot put record for over 20 years. It was at Northeast that Hoy met the love of his life, a sweet young Louisiana girl, Connie Estelle Ware. Connie was first drawn to Hoy's 1957 Ford convertible, but was soon swooped off her feet. They were married in Monroe, Louisiana on September 8, 1961; just a few months after Hoy achieved his Bachelors in Education. Hoy then followed his coach to Southern Illinois University, where he served as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the Track and Field team. After earning his Master's degree in Education from Southern Illinois, Hoy brought his family back to Texas to begin his career. He was track and football coach for both Beaumont ISD and Clear Creek ISD, while also teaching the gifted students in Math and Science. Continuing to strive for a better life for his family Hoy returned to school at the University of Houston studying Chemistry. It was during this time that Hoy made a decision to change careers that would set the course for the rest of his professional life. He became part of the earliest days of the space program at NASA as he joined Sperry Univac as a systems programmer. Sperry Univac transferred Hoy and his family all over the United States, but always feeling at home in Texas the family returned to Austin in 1968 where he first joined Tracor then moved on to MRI Systems in 1970. MRI was a software pioneer that developed the first commercial database management system stemming from research started at the University of Texas. MRI was acquired by Intel, then by SAS Institute where Hoy remained until his retirement in 2006. Hoy loved his career as a software developer as well as his SAS family. Hoy and his wife, Connie have been long time members of The Georgetown Church of Christ where he had served as an elder and was blessed to teach many adult bible studies including his favorite for young married adults. Hoy was also a proud 20-year plus cancer survivor. Hoy was preceded in death by his parents, Dee and Mildred Rogers; and his brother, Captain Guinn Rogers, helicopter pilot, who died serving in the Vietnam War in 1967. Hoy leaves behind to cherish his memory and continue his legacy of serving others, his loving wife of over 52 years, Connie E. Rogers; his two sons, Christopher Wayne Rogers and his wife Cathy Chapman Rogers and Brent Scott Rogers and his wife Krista; his sister, Carolyn Rogers Mitchell and her husband James; his brother, Larry Rogers and his wife LaJuana; his beloved grandchildren will miss their Papa, Tyler Scott Rogers, Hannah Chapman Rogers, Emma Kate Rogers, Marshall Scott Rogers and Pierce Austin Rogers; his friend that he considered his third son, Noe Cortez and his family; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other loving family members and a host of friends. Hoy's family request memorial donations to be sent to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or the St. Jude Children Research Foundation at www.stjude.org. Personal words and memories can be left for the family at our online guestbook at www.gabbrielsfuneral.com.