Obituary for Ella Rogers

Ella Reed Rogers

October 17, 1919 – August 16, 2021

Ella Reed Howell Rogers, 101, died August 16, 2021, in Oceanside, California. Ella Reed was born in Davis, Oklahoma, on October 17, 1919. She graduated from Davis High School and attended Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha and graduated in 1940 from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in speech and drama.

Ella Reed met Max Rogers at the University of Oklahoma in 1939 and they were married in Davis on January 30, 1942. Shortly thereafter Max was inducted into the Army and Ella Reed joined him in Oak Ridge, Tennessee where Max served in the Security Division of the Manhattan Project, where they welcomed their first child.

Ella Reed and Max returned to Blackwell, Oklahoma in 1946 and made their home there for the next 59 years where they raised their three children Carolyn, Steven and Laura. Ella Reed became active in the Blackwell community, was a life-long active member of the First Christian Church, a member of P.E.O. and volunteered for many years at the Blackwell General Hospital. She served as a Cub Scout den mother and a leader of a Campfire Bluebirds group. With her artistic vision, Ella Reed worked with an architect and interior designer to build the family’s home on the east side of town in 1957 where she loved to decorate for the holidays and entertain family.

Ella Reed enjoyed traveling with her family in the States and abroad and fulfilled her parents’ lifelong dream by taking them to Europe when they were in their eighties. After the death of her husband Max in 2005, Ella Reed left her home on the plains of Oklahoma for 85 years and moved into a beautiful retirement community overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Carlsbad, California. Ella Reed took a writing class and enjoyed composing and sharing her many life stories. She enjoyed fine arts, knitting, crocheting and home decorating crafts. Ella Reed is remembered by her family and friends for her sweet gracious demeanor, her kindness to all and her deeply held spirituality.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, Thomas P. and Clay Draughon Howell, two sons, Steven and Phillip Rogers and grandson Braden Coleman. She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Savage of Dallas, Texas, Laura and husband Allen Coleman of Carlsbad, California; four grandchildren David Savage and wife Clare of Dallas, Texas, Kelly and husband Greg Meeter of Denver Colorado, Kim Savage of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Whitney and husband Ryan McCreary of Newcastle, California. Great grandchildren include Grant and Jack Savage of Dallas, Mac and Alexander Meeter of Denver, and Max and Penney McCreary of Newcastle, California.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.