Ann Louise Rogers

Ann Louise Gurley Rogers passed away on January 30, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born on July 9, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, where she grew up. Ann attended the Barstow School in Kansas City, but she spent her junior and senior years of high school at the Orme School, near Meyer, Arizona, from which she graduated in 1963. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University in 1967.

Ann and her future husband, James Gordon Rogers, Jr., both attended Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, but it was at dancing school in the 7th grade they first met. In 1973 Ann and Jim were married at St. Andrew’s. Ann served as Youth Director for the Kansas City Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1974 she and Jim moved to Columbia, Missouri, so Jim could begin graduate studies that led to a Ph.D. Ann was the Director of the Campfire Girls in Columbia and later, with Jim, owned and operated The Design Center, a gift and design store. Ann and Jim began their family in Columbia with the births of their son, Neal (1978), and their daughter, Sarah (1979). After spending two years in Savannah, Georgia, Ann, Jim, and the children moved to Lakeland, Florida in 1992, where Ann worked as a library specialist at Florida Southern College and the children completed junior and senior high school and Jim taught and served in various administrative roles at the College. Ann wrote extensively for local newspapers and national trade publications. She recently was writing a biography of Fonchen Lord, a notable minimalist artist. Together, Ann and Jim wrote a history of the Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland’s art museum. From 1999 to 2013, they led study-abroad trips to places around the world for Florida Southern College.

Ann and Jim Retired in 2014 and moved to a condominium in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, where they participated in a wide variety of community activities. She and Jim continued to travel widely. Her favorites included a safari in Tanzania and visits to Paris.

In 2023, Ann and Jim moved to Las Vegas to enjoy a larger role in the lives of their daughter Sarah and her husband, Rich Moriarty, and their granddaughters, Marlowe and Poppy. Ann loved the girls’ school events and family dinners. She and Jim spent holidays with the Las Vegas family in Laguna Beach, California, where she and Jim celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2023 at a family gathering. Ann loved sailing, culture, nature, travel, art, food, and especially family and friends. She had a nice smile and a great laugh. Ann was truly a good person and will be missed very much.

Ann leaves behind her husband, Jim; her son Neal and his wife Susan; daughter Sarah Moriarty and her husband, Rich; her granddaughters, Marlowe and Poppy Moriarty; and nieces, nephews, and in-laws. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Janet Low Whitman, and her brother, George Hammond Gurley, Jr.

Ann’s memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri on March 22, 2025, at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to your favorite charity.