Rovene Marie Quigley

Rovene Marie Bergman Clark Quigley, age 98, well known Columbus patron of the arts who fought to preserve and revive the downtown Crump Theatre as a community venue, died at Willow Crossing Health and Rehabilitation Center on May, 26, 2026.

Rovene Marie Bergman was born in Kahoka, Missouri on March 20, 1928 the last of ten children of Frank Anthony Bergman and Ada Lucretia Smith. She graduated in 1945 from Wyaconda High School in Wyaconda, Missouri. She left home to work for the American Red Cross at Wakeman Hospital in Edinburg close to Camp Atterbury during World War II with her sister Dessie. After work and on weekends she took flying lessons at Columbus Municipal Airport at Walesboro. She once visited a fortune teller in Edinburg who told her she would outlive three husbands. It was while working at Atterbury that she met Billy (nmi) Clark, at the time a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, while getting a soda at Zaharakos where Billy had held his first job as a soda jerk. Photons from the spark in Billy’s eye that began the relationship continued to be reflected between the mirrors of that location until it was recently remodeled.

Rovene and Billy had two sons, Terry David (Carla) Clark and Danny Lynn (Carola) Clark. Rovene returned to the working world as soon as possible when the boys were older. She worked at Arvin, a long time at Hamilton Cosco as secretary to Keith Moore and ended her work career at Cummins Electronics. After retirement, besides obtaining an electrician’s license, Rovene helped build homes with Habitat for the Humanities with the late former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn.

Throughout her life, Rovene was involved in the arts and theater. Rovene and Billy helped to found the Columbus Arts Guild. Rovene was President of the organization three times and was Drama Division Chairman, directing, producing and performing on stage, often helping to build sets and sew costumes. Her most memorable role was as the showgirl Adelaide, a main singing role in the musical “Guys and Dolls”. She also served on the Board of the Driftwood Valley Arts Council. She served for eleven years as unpaid director of the Crump Theatre, presenting bluegrass, folk, heavy metal, hip-hop and rock-n-roll shows, as well as theatrical plays in the historic theatre. A letter she sent on a whim to John Mellencamp resulted in him performing at the theater with a nationally broadcast TV show.

Although Rovene never drank alcohol, preferring only unsweetened tea, no lemon, she was known to party with the loudest and most inebriated folks in Columbus singing Karaoke “These Boots are Made for Walking” and dancing to “Mustang Sally”. Ride Sally Ride!

Rovene lost her first husband, Billy, to illness at a young age. She later married Bob Quigley, a wonderful man and helped raise his step daughters Janet and Brenda Tunget. She and Bob also fostered several children. Rovene is survived by Terry David (Carla) Clark, Danny Lynn (Carola) Clark, Janet George and grandchildren Lydia (Brian) Clark Kisida, Dominee (Chris) Burton, Jenny (Glenn) DeJarnette, Rudy Zeigler, Brandon Zeigler, Courtney Zeigler, Jordan George, Rachel (Ethan) Yeley and Jerad George as well as numerous great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands Billy Clark and Bob Quigley, step daughter Brenda (Robert) Schirato, her parents Anthony and Ada Bergman and siblings, Stella, Nellie, Cliff, Carl, Lawrence, Lola, Dessie, Loretta and Delbert. Not wanting to be three-times widowed, Rovene never married that third husband.

An event to celebrate Rovene’s life is to be held at The Crump Theatre from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Saturday, June 13, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please help the family continue Rovene’s legacy for bringing happiness and light to the stage by donating in her name to: Liah Mazz Performance Productions, LLC via checks mailed to: 1004 S Creek Dr. W, Greensburg, IN 47240 or online by using: Venmo @liahmazzbellydancer or PayPal @elianemazzetto, or to Dance Street Studio, Ronda Byers, via checks mailed to: 3136 N. National Road, Columbus, IN 47203 or online by using: Venmo Ronda Byer @ DanceStreetStudio. Donations will also be accepted at The Crump Theatre during the celebration of her life.

Please leave a fond memory of Rovene at www.Hathaway-Myers.com.