Delmar (Rogers) Mayo

Delmar was born September 17, 1913 to Delos and Margaret (Pyle) Howard at their home in Pixley, California. The midwife was her grandma and the doctor arrived in a horse and buggy, traveling 15 miles. Delmar was named by using the first three letters of her dad’s name, Delos, and the first three letters of her mom’s name, Margaret.

Delmar’s younger siblings were a brother, Don, and two sisters, Maida and Wanda. Their childhood memories were interesting accounts of living on a farm and raising pigs, horses, cows, and chickens. When her dad went to get wood for the fireplace, Delmar accompanied him in a wagon pulled by two horses. Delmar’s dad, Delos, was the Tulare County Constable for 44 years. Delmar’s mother had taught all eight grades before she was married and so decided to teach Delmar until she started school at 8 years old. She graduated from Pixley Grade School in 1927 and Tulare High School in 1931. During these years Delmar’s mother insisted and encouraged her in her piano playing.

At an early age, Delmar learned to love the Lord Jesus Christ as her own personal Saviour. It was not long after this that she came into the enjoyment of the security of the believer which is found in the finished work of Christ at Calvary. It was later that she happily learned that the Lord Jesus was coming to take every blood bought believer to His heavenly home.

Delmar went on to attend Biola and graduated in 1933. She returned to Biola to take a medical course, graduating again in 1934. While attending Biola, she met Raymond Rogers, who was also attending Biola. On July 15, 1934 they were married in Glendale, California, with their favorite teacher, Dr. Hubbard, speaking at the wedding.

Ray and Delmar heard of a need to spread the good news of the grace of God in a poor town in northern California, called Cottonwood. For almost 2 years they spread the gospel there which had very little Christian testimony. Many people were saved and turned to follow the Lord Jesus. Delmar had a Sunday School class of young girls and saw them turn to love the Lord Jesus. This Sunday School class experience was preparing her for what was ahead. Many houses in the country were visited and they saw much poverty. Some dear people lived in tents, but were so open to hear the good news of God’s love to them. Neighbors shared the food they had--pork head cheese, liver, and potatoes.The weather was blazing hot.

In 1936, Ray and Delmar began their journey on a freighter to the Belgian Congo as missionaries. They remained there for five years to spread the gospel with the Andersens and the Whitakers. Delmar remembers how difficult it was to learn the language and seeing the need of having the Scriptures in the African language. Soon, she was able to help with the translation of the Gospel of John in Kiyaka (Kee-yaaka). A number of natives turned “to God from idols to serve the living and true God” I Thessalonians 1:9. It was in Africa that the twins, Floyd and Lloyd, and later, John, were born.. In 1941, they booked passage on a ship scheduled to sail from Cape Town via Australia to San Pedro, California. Before the ship had reached Cape Town, it was sunk in the Atlantic by the enemy. So Ray and Delmar arranged to sail on another British ship which took them under black-out far south of the Indian Ocean in order to avoid the raiders. After 42 days on the ocean, they sailed into San Pedro, California, so very thankful to the Lord.

They lived on their orange grove until 1949. It was there that Bonnie, the twins, Phil and Faith, and Tim were born. The family moved again to Cottonwood, California in 1949 where Paul and Grace were born. In 1955 they moved to Three Hills, Alberta, Canada where their youngest child, Ruth, was born. There the children attended Prairie Bible Institute. Their last move was to Portland, Oregon in 1963. During her busy life of raising a family, Delmar spent many hours giving piano lessons at Portland Christian School. It was here in Portland that Ray Rogers went home to be with the Lord in 1970, after 35 years of marriage. After Delmar had been a widow for almost 2 years, she married Clarence Mayo on December 21, 1971. They spent most of their years in the Portland area ,enjoying several extended trips. The Lord took Clarence home on March 23, 1985.

In 1986, at the age of 72, she started working as a waitress in the dining room at Fairlawn Retirement Center. It was then that Delmar started coming in early to work so she could play hymns while the residents sang. After she retired in 1999 at the age of 85, Delmar continued to play the organ for their devotions until her late 90’s. She was honored in 2012 for her volunteer work at Fairlawn. They spoke of her as one who had led a life devoted to others. Delmar also kept busy teaching her Sunday School class which enjoyed hearing the Bible Stories and the practical lessons using a flannelgraph. She had a gift to capture young children's attention. In 2005 Delmar came to live with her son-in-law and daughter, Gordon and Faith Sester. For several years she continued to drive her car to Fairlawn for their daily hymn singing. She often ate lunch with her many friends there.

Delmar was preceded in death by Raymond Rogers and Clarence Mayo, as well as sons, Phil, Tim, and Floyd. She was also preceded by a sister, Maida Kimes, one grandchild, Karen Rogers, and two great grandchildren, Rachel Stewart, and Isaiah Looney.

Delmar is survived by a brother, Don Howard of Porterville, California, and a sister, Wanda Miller of Austin, Texas. Of her 10 children, she is survived by Lloyd Rogers of Quito, Ecuador; John Rogers of Placentia, California; Bonnie DeGraaf of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Faith Sester of Gresham, Oregon; Paul Rogers of Orange, California; Grace Rogers of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Ruth Rochat of Avinger, Texas. In addition, she is survived by Paul Mayo of Walnut Creek, California; David Mayo of Troutdale, Oregon; and Sharon Clarke of Redwood, California. She is also survived by 32 grandchildren, 88 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

Delmar would not want a eulogy, but it is impossible to talk about her without mentioning what her life was about. It was serving others, reading the Word of God, and in later years, writing many letters to encourage others. She left an example to all, in the time she spent in studying the Word of God and in prayer.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, April 9, 2016 in Powell Valley Grade School, 4825 SE Powell Valley Rd., Gresham, OR.

For those who wish, the family suggests donations in honor of Delmar be made to a Christian charity, Bible Truth Publishers. These donations will be used for the free distribution of Bibles and other Christian literature in Delmar's memory: Bible Truth Publishers, PO Box 649, Addison, IL 60101.