Ellen Claire Rogers

Ellen Claire (Kemp) Rogers, 70, of Paragould, passed away Saturday, August 22, 2026, at St.Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, AR. Ellen was born on March 9,1956 in Little Rock, AR to Edgar Ray Kemp, Jr. and Margaret Ellen (Mel) Letzig Kemp.

Ellen attended Our Lady of the Holy Souls and graduated from St. Mary's Academy in 1974, in Little Rock, AR. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Arkansas State University. She married Rolan Rogers on July 20, 1985.

Ellen taught and coached at Leachville High School and MacArthur Jr High in Jonesboro. She also taught at Riverside Jr and Sr High Schools.

Ellen was an avid athlete, participating in softball, volleyball, basketball, bowling and golf. She excelled at golf and spent 20 years on the Arkansas Women's Golf Association Board of Directors. She and Rolan officiated many softball and volleyball games and enjoyed playing in mixed pairs golf tournaments together.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rolan; her brothers, William R. Kemp (Bill) and Daniel B. Kemp, Sr. (Dan), and bonus granddaughter, Shea Cook.

Ellen leaves behind her bonus children, Bryan Rogers (Jill), Cindy (Rogers) Cook, Barry Rogers and Blake Rogers (Shanda); her bonus grand and great grandchildren, Rachel Rogers (Brandyn Dean), Cade Rogers (Abby), Cydney Rogers, Brooklyn Turnage and Bennett Gallagher; her brother, Michael E. Kemp; her sister in-laws, Ann Teaford Kemp, Paula Bone Smith, Kay Sinor (Larry), Linda Taylor, and Patti Rogers-Wright (Mike), and her brother in-law, Wayne Rogers (Sue Peterson). She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, many loving friends and her beloved Mel Mel.

A private Burial will be under the direction of Heath Funeral Home at St. Mary's Cemetery in Paragould, AR.

Lasting memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, St. Mary's Catholic Church or any Animal Shelter.

Online Tributes: www.heathfuneralhome.com