Julia Rogers and her twin brother were born in Oklahoma City, OK in 1939. Her parents, Ivan and Thelma Ogden, worked as sharecroppers during the depression. Later Ivan worked as a machinist outside of Tulsa.
Julia grew up in Oakhurst, OK in a small house she and her five brothers helped her parents build. She wrote that they moved in before the house was fully completed.
Julia wrote the thing she remembered most about her dad was “his kind and gentle ways. His voice was loud and rough, but he was gentle.” The thing she remembered most about her mom was that “She was hard working. She taught us to be happy with love and lots of music. She was patient, kind, and loving.”
Julia was independent and strong willed at an early age. She shared her surprise to come home to find upset parents because she went fishing alone. She was just four years old.
Julia loved and cared for the animals, admitting to riding the farm pigs. Her chores included feeding pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, cats and dogs. She also helped with housework including the wash, ironing, cooking, sewing and drawing the water.
Julia wrote that her favorite childhood memories were “being able to catch a cable car, riding to Sand Springs to the movies and coming home with her brothers.” Julia also wrote that “when she was young she wanted to become a mother and housewife with lots of daughters because she never had a sister.”
Julia first married at age sixteen and left school to begin raising her first two babies. Three years later she met and married the love of her life, Duane Rogers, in Long Beach, CA. Julia and Duane were married over 40 years. Together they raised a family of five children.
The family relocated to Colorado in 1976 to be closer to Julia’s mother and father in Oklahoma. Duane and Julia later moved to California for a few years and settled in Washington state. Together they enjoyed time with family, boating, camping, fishing, water fights, square dancing and serving together in the coast guard auxiliary.
One of Julia’s gifts was caring for and helping others learn how to care for newborn infants. Julia was affectionately referred to as the “baby whisperer.” She loved babies and enjoyed caring for and encouraging new moms.
Julia was knowledgeable and skilled in many areas. She knew how to help with car repairs, tend a garden, set up a model train set and cook fried chicken. Julia worked as a waitress, a typist, a medical assistant and a health insurance claims processor before retiring.
One of her joys was spending time with and hearing about her five children, thirteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She enjoyed going to school programs, sporting events, church programs and various events or activities.
Julia died after a short illness on May 15, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, five brothers and two grandchildren.
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