REEDVILLE—Frederick Ray Rogers Jr. passed away at home in the early morning on Thursday, January 20, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Sunnybank on October 19, 1926, and grew up in Hacks Neck.
He was preceded in death by Maria Biddlecomb Rogers, his wife of 60 years; his parents, Frederick Ray Rogers Sr. and Dorothy Neale Rogers; and siblings, Carrie Lee Bryant, Joseph Samuel Rogers, Alphine Rogers Crosley, Otelia Rogers Robertson and Mary Ann Rogers Rideway.
He is survived by his four children, Elizabeth Rogers Somers (Paul), Louisa Rogers Shelton (Ira), Frederick Ray Rogers III (Christine) and Walter Neale Rogers (Martha). He had 10 grandchildren, Thomas Walter Somers (Samantha), Jonathan Carroll Somers (Nicole), William Neale Somers (Carrie), Samuel Ingram Somers (Jessica), Steven Frederick Shelton (Whitney), Sarah Shelton Esterson (Shawn), Jency Rogers Clopper (Michael), Hannah Elizabeth Rogers, Elizabeth Lee Rogers and Reese Biddlecomb Rogers; 11 great-grandchildren, Emma Nicole Somers, Aubrey Elizabeth Somers, Madeline Irene Somers, Juliette Catherine Somers, Harper Elizabeth Somers, Mason Thomas Shelton, BenjaminWalter Shelton, Maria Trew Esterson, Elliott Elizabeth Esterson, Claire Shelton Esterson and Helen Francis Clopper.
He also is survived by his siblings, Kathleen Rogers Wissig of Ellicot City, Md., and John W. Rogers (Linda) of Richmond; and in-laws, Howard “Snookie” Robertson of Reedville, Lew Ridgeway of Reedville, Johanna Biddlecomb Shahan of Hagerstown, Md., Winfred Biddlecomb Delano of Reedville, Joseph Dudley Biddlecomb (Anita) of Fairport and Beverley Davis Biddlecomb of Fairport.
He was blessed to have many loving and faithful caregivers over the years, especially Lisa Kelly, Kadasia Veney, Bonnie Veney, Glenda Palmer and Portia Bea. The family will be forever grateful to Lori Rice, his nurse from Hospice of Virginia, for her extraordinary care and dedication.
Ray was an active, dedicated pillar of the community. He was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Fleeton, a life member of Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department, charter member of Northumberland Volunteer Rescue Squad, member of the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum, member of American Legion Post #117, past master of Masonic Lodge #321 in Reedville and was a member of the board of directors for Roseland Cemetery.
Ray was an original member of Reedville’s baseball team in the Chesapeake League, assistant Scout Master with Boy Scout Troop #202, coach of the Huff and Puff girls softball team and was elected to the Northern Neck Sports Wall of Fame.
Ray enlisted in the Coast Guard at age 17 during World War II and served on the Coast Guard Cutter “Cuyahoga.” After the war, he began his career as a waterman. Ray worked his way up to captain in the menhaden industry on the East Coast until he headed back to Reedville to start his pound net business. In the 1980s he was hired by Zapata Haynie Corporation (Omega Protein) as a foreman in the net repair and manufacturing facility, where he worked until his retirement. After retiring, he continued fishing, repairing net and oystering until he was 90.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church-Fleeton, Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department, Northumberland Rescue Squad, Chesapeake Academy in Irvington or Hospice of Virginia.
Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Fleeton. Guests were required to wear masks and asked to visit briefly due to COVID-19. A graveside service was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, at Roseland Cemetery in Reedville.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
