Carla Mae Rodgers of Victoria, Texas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with family at her side. She was just ten days shy of her 82nd birthday. She is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Lowell Wayne Rodgers, her son Donnie Rodgers and wife Kim Hawes, and her daughter Deneen Jones and husband Steve Jones. Also surviving Carla are her sister Faelynn Gober, sister Linda Halepaska, and her husband Josef, grandchildren Quinn Jones, Logan Hawes, Landon Hawes, and his wife Devin.
Carla Mae is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Gerald, and wife Betty Mullican, sister Jeanne Goss, sister-in-law Patricia, and brother-in-law Billy Kocijan, brother-in-law Sidney Gober, and brother-in-law David Clark.
Born Carla Mae Mullican on June 26 1944, Carla was the fourth of five siblings in a boisterous family in Humble, Texas. Growing up on a dairy farm, she was quick to learn all the essentials of being a proper south Texas young lady. She developed her love of gardening and cooking, her artistic mastery of painting, drawing, needlepoint- nearly any craft she attempted- and became one of the most dangerous girls in town with a .22 rifle, at least if you were a squirrel.
Carla Mae graduated from Humble High School in 1962, not knowing at the time that her family members were making plans for her. Her older sister Jeanne conspired with friend Patricia Rodgers Kocijan, who had a younger brother Wayne in the Army, posted at the time in Cold War Germany. Carla Mae was encouraged to become a pen pal to the lonely GI. Letters sailed the ocean back and forth. Carla Mae soon included a photo, and with that, Wayne was ready to swim the Atlantic to get back to Texas. Carla Mae and Wayne finally met face-to-face in the fall of 1962 and were married the day after Valentine’s Day the following spring, the bride in her blue velvet wedding dress. Wayne’s employment at Dupont immediately moved them to Victoria, and their first apartment together, which sat dangerously close to the railroad tracks downtown. On Carla Mae’s insistence, though, they made trips back to Humble almost every weekend to see her family there. After moving to their home on Washington Street, the time was right for them to start a family of their own. They soon welcomed Donnie Douglas in 1969, followed by Deneen (DeeDee) Michelle in 1970.
Carla Mae would be the first to admit she was not one for wanderlust, forgoing travel and adventure instead to keep a close eye on her family. Because of her dependable nature, she became the caretaker of choice for many of those close to her, including in-laws and neighbors. Carla Mae never asked for or expected much, drawing more from the simple pleasures of a relaxing evening on her lawn with the neighbors or the occasional cruise in the family Mustang. She instilled the values of love and family in her children, which they carry to this day.
While blessed with a sharp mind and a sharper sense of humor, Carla Mae was not blessed with the best of health, particularly in her adult years. Chronic pain due to fibromyalgia plagued her almost daily for 40 years, though those around her would rarely know it. She always had a knack for seeing the best in people and the best in life. Despite the challenges of day-to-day, she knew the importance of forward thinking and setting goals, her final one to see her grandson Quinn graduate from college, which she did just a few short weeks ago.
While hearts are broken at her loss, solace is taken in that she is no longer restrained by pain. Carla Mae leaves a legacy of a beautiful yard and home, a full kitchen, countless friends, and a loving family that will miss her every day.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made to the American Legion Post 166 in Victoria, Texas.
Words of comfort, condolences, and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.
