James Edward Rogers

James Edward Rogers was born June 19, 1940 in Cashiers, North Carolina to Anna Mae Zachary and Edward Nathan Rogers. James and his two younger sisters, Judy and Janet, were raised all over the US. He attended 16 different schools before graduating in 1958 from Grundy High School in Virginia. James briefly attended Virginia Tech before joining the Air Force in the Aviation Cadet Program. After being assured he would go directly to Pilot Training- James waited over six years and attended two flight schools, Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer, before finally attending the promised Pilot Training.

 As a pilot, James was a Commander of B-52bombers and a proud member of the Mach Busters Club. James was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross as a result of heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on September 23, 1970 during the Vietnam war. It was on this day James flew to the aid of a friendly force that was pinned and under attack and directed employment of tactical aircraft to silence the hostile fire. 

James arrived at Loring AFB in Limestone, Maine in the Summer of 1962. It was there, at a dance at the Outpost, a restaurant and dance hall, that he met Rita Ann Theriault. They began dating and married in 1962. They had two children together, Elizabeth “Beth” Anne and James Jr. before later divorcing. Beth and James, Jr. followed in James’ footsteps and also served in the US Air Force.

 In 1969 James attended about three weeks of jungle survival school before flying into Saigon-into the war zone. He flew over 700 hours of combat flight time while in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller. He would often recall how he would fly any way but straight to dodge the heavy enemy fire and if he were to ever be hit, it would be because he ran into the bullet. 

After returning from Vietnam, James retired from the Air Force and moved with his family to Knoxville, Tennessee. Still wanting to fly and serve, he flew for the National Guard and was an investigator for the US Civil Service Commission. James also attended the University of Tennessee and earned Bachelor and MBA degrees and a love for Tennessee football (Go Vols!).

In 1977, at the Leicester Hotel in London, James met his eternal traveling companion, Elizabeth “Liz” Beck. Liz was in London with her family from Utah and James was meeting his daughter, Beth, who was living with an aunt in Ireland. In James’ own words, “It’s amazing how one decision can change one’s life by which way you go!”

Their long-distance courtship included trips to Utah, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, and England and culminated on April 27, 1979 in their Peachtree home in Knoxville where they wed. James gained three more daughters through the union, Melanie, Debra, and Mindy. James and Liz were sealed for time and all eternity 5 years later in the Atlanta, Georgia temple. Their love of each other and traveling saw them visiting over 85 different countries, many of them multiple times. 

James and Liz had an entrepreneurial spirit and they owned and worked together in many businesses including restaurants, health & wellness, and a travel magazine. They lived in various places around the country, finally landing in St. George, Utah in 2009. From the time he was a young child, he had a great love for his Rogers and Zachary families. This love increased as he built his own family. He was the glue that held his loved ones together with letters, visits, phone calls, and emails. While continuing to travel with Liz and spend time with family, James was able to focus on genealogy work, which was a life-long passion. James served a part-time, 5-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Family History Center.

 James dealt with the after effects of agent orange after serving in Vietnam. Eventually his heart and lungs became weaker and he succumbed to his long fight in his home on February 17, 2025. 

James is preceded in death by his parents, Anna Mae & Edward “Ed” Rogers, daughter Debra Kreitzer, and grandson Mark Kreitzer. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Elizabeth “Liz” Rogers, his sisters, Judy (Jim) McKinney and Janet (Peter) Scalgetti, children, Melanie (Donald)Cameron, Elizabeth “Beth” Hill, James (Emelia) Rogers Jr., and Mindy (Willie) Jackson, 18grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. James had a gift of making each grandchild and great-grandchild feel like they were his favorite. He is loved and will be deeply and sorely missed! 

Services for James include a viewing to be held on February 28, 2025 from 6-8 pm at McArthur Funeral Home (160 W. 700 S. St. George, Utah), and a funeral to be held on March 1, 2025 from 11 am - noon at the LDS 16th Ward Chapel (550 E. 700 S. St. George, Utah)

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum in St. George, UT. https://www.westernskywarbirds.org/make-a-donation.html