Kenneth Ray “K.R.” Rodgers, a longtime Cushing, Oklahoma and Colorado resident, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 in Cushing at the age of 85 years.

The son of the late Geoffrey Rodgers and Lela Gas, Kenneth was born on October 24, 1924 in Cushing, Oklahoma.

He was reared and educated in the Cushing area attending Independence school southwest of Cushing.

Kenneth entered the United States Army and while on leave from the service Kenneth came back to Cushing and was united in marriage to Ethel Lucille Tibbett on March 6, 1944 in Cushing.

He then returned to the Army where he served in the European Theatre and following his honorable discharge Kenneth and Ethel made their home in Cushing. Kenneth and Ethel then purchased a farm south of Cushing where they ran a dairy and raised peanuts. They continued living in the Cushing area until they moved to Colorado in 1959 where they stayed until 1979 before returning to Cushing. They eventually began spending the majority of their summers in Colorado and their winters in Oklahoma.

While Kenneth and Ethel lived in Colorado they owned and operated several lodges including one in Glenhaven, a ski lodge in Stoner, and the Jump Steady Lodge in Buena Vista.

During his spare time Kenneth enjoyed riding horses, hunting, visiting the brethren and reading the Bible.

Survivors include one daughter, Pamela Jean Hughey and her husband Larry of Cushing; one son, Mark Rodgers and his wife Anita of Dolores, Colorado; one uncle, Harold Rodgers of Cushing, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Teri Kidd, Shanna Lawrence, William Lawrence, Lori Nelson, Shane Pym, Geoffery Rodgers, Matthew Rodgers and Caitlin Rodgers; eleven great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Ethel; two brothers, Alan Rodgers and Russell Rodgers; one sister, Vonola Rodgers; one grandson, Eric Beeks; nephews, Darrel Tibbett, Gerald Rodgers and Terry Rodgers; and one great-granddaughter, Ashley Dawn.

Funeral services have been entrusted to the Palmer Marler Funeral Home at Cushing and will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 7, 2010 in the Church of the Firstborn, Cushing, Oklahoma with Brother Jack Sweet officiating.

Burial will follow at the Parkland Cemetery, Parkland, Oklahoma.