Carol Rogers Schaper

Carol Rogers Schaper of 2709 Bedfordshire Lane, Plano, Texas 77075 died June 14, 2016 of Alzheimer's disease. Her first husband, Lt. Joseph W. Johnson, USAAF, died in May, 1944. Her second husband, Donald C. Schaper, predeceased her in 2003. She is survived by two sons, J. W. (Don) Johnson of Houston and Philip Schaper of Plano, one daughter, Candace Schaper of Plano, two grandsons, Stephen Johnson (and daughter-in-law Lisa R. Johnson) and Kevin Johnson of Houston and two great-grandsons, Barrett L. Johnson and Jack G. Johnson of Houston.

Carol was born near Burleson, Texas, the daughter of Renfro Forrest Rogers and Lottie Beth Fairless Rogers. She was graduated from Paschal High School in Ft. Worth, Texas and Villa Maria College, Erie, PA magna cum laude.

Carol was a tireless advocate for the mentally ill, serving in many capacities with various advocacy groups, both national and local. She founded the Alliance for Mentally Ill of Erie, PA, the 42nd unit affiliate of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). Upon returning to Texas in 1982, she served the Dallas Alliance for the Mentally Ill as Vice-President; served on the Advisory Board of the Collin County MHMR Center; served as President of the Texas Alliance for the Mentally Ill (TEXAMI, now NAMI Texas), during which time she was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Board Strategic Planning Process, the Community Support Grants from the Center for Mental Health Services of the National Institute of Mental Health through the (then) Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TDMHMR).

Carol was a key player in the preparation and submission to the Texas Legislature of a proposed bill for Mental Health Parity, whose passage resulted in state funded agencies, organizations and entities being directed to cover mental illness with medical insurance.

In 1992, the Texas Mental Health Foundation and the Texas Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation honored her with the Helen Farabee "Wings Award" for giving "wings to persons with mental illness."

Carol consulted with the Dallas Mental Health Mental Retardation Center and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health developing Family Education courses for each. She also consulted with TDMHMR as a Family Advocate, serving on numerous committees, task forces and councils as liaison families for the development of community services. She secured a grant from the Hogg Foundation and developed two workbooks: Social Security Benefits for People with Mental Illness and Social Security Benefits, Bridge of Support, Bridge of Hope, Bridge to the Future.

Carol enjoyed a long relationship with NAMI Collin County (now AMICCO), from its founding in 1987. She also served as Project Director of "Rebalancing My Life" Psychosocial Education Program and "Families as Part of Team" for the Planned Living Assistance Network of North Texas, Inc. (PLAN).

Arrangements under the direction of Sparkman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Richardson, TX.