Jimmy Edward Rogers, age 82, of Menard, passed away Monday, June 8, 2026, at the Menard Manor.
Jimmy E. Rogers is best known around Menard as the Yellowjacket youth sports supporter and the school community gym icon. In retirement, he became a familiar and friendly face to nearly every child, parent, and coach who passed through the doors of the community’s gym. But before settling in Menard, Jimmy spent decades managing, operating, and leading in the grocery store industry across western Texas and New Mexico.
Born in DeKalb (Bowie County), Texas, on October 23, 1943, to Jasper and Jaunita (Haddock) Rogers, Jimmy grew up alongside five brothers and two sisters. His father ran the Spring Hill community general store, located beside the church and across from both the cemetery and the schoolhouse. The Rogers family raised their own chickens and everyone—young and old—helped pick cotton by hand to support the household. At an early age, the family moved to Lamesa in Dawson County. Jimmy attended local schools there, graduating from Lamesa High School in 1961.
Establishing His Adult Life During high school, Jimmy worked part-time at a local grocery store. After graduation, he joined the west Texas-based grocery chain Furr’s. He was soon promoted to “Drug Department” Manager and transferred to Big Spring, Texas. It was in Big Spring that fate introduced him to Claudia Sorrells, who was in town with her mother on one of their monthly grocery trips from the ranch in Glasscock County. The two began dating and soon married.
Jimmy’s career continued to advance, and it was not long before he and Claudia welcomed their first son, Leslie “Les,” followed three years later by their second son, Alan. Jimmy’s leadership skills and work ethic earned him a promotion to Store Manager in the Albuquerque metro area. His success there led to another opportunity: to manage one of Furr’s newest “super stores” in northwest Albuquerque, located at the base of the Sandia Mountains. This innovative concept—combining groceries with appliances, guns, ammunition, liquor, and more—predated retail giants like Walmart. Jimmy thrived in this role, building a reputation for excellence in New Mexico’s largest metropolitan area.
Back to Texas Roots and Family After several successful years in New Mexico, Jimmy was promoted again and asked to move back to Texas—this time to Amarillo. Settling with his family in south Amarillo, he became the District Supervisor over all Furr’s stores in the Amarillo area, as well as locations in Canyon, Hereford, Borger, and Pampa. His success in Amarillo led to another move, this time to Lubbock, home to Furr’s corporate headquarters. As Regional Grocery Supervisor, Jimmy oversaw stores in Lubbock and surrounding towns, as well as in Abilene, San Angelo, and Eastern New Mexico. Eventually promoted to District Manager, he led all operations in these regions, supervising hundreds of employees and traveling constantly—by company car and even on the chain’s two private aircraft.
A Changing Industry In the early 1980s, Furr’s expanded into Arizona, stretching the company’s resources. The chain was eventually sold to a German-based parent company. During this transition, Jimmy was instrumental in helping the new leadership adapt to the West Texas market. He returned to the Panhandle District as a general manager and later accepted a position in San Angelo offered by a former Furr’s colleague. That role rekindled his appreciation for the pace and community connection of small-town grocery stores.
Finding “Home” in Menard In 2001, Jimmy and Claudia were presented with an opportunity to move to Menard and manage the county’s only grocery store. This time, they hoped it would be their last move. In Menard, they found not just a place to live—but a place to belong. Jimmy served as store manager for about ten years. When the time came to consider retirement, conversations over morning coffee with the County Judge and the School Superintendent convinced him to take on a new role as caretaker of the community’s newly built Community Center and High School Gym. That “retirement job” became a second career in service. Jimmy was the man who opened the doors, cleaned, set up events, and made sure everything ran smoothly. Many local children grew up knowing him only in this role, and Jimmy takes pride in that. Claudia shares that pride, having stood by his side for over fifty-nine years of marriage.
Legacy Looking back, Jimmy’s career spanned the supervision of more than a hundred grocery stores, leadership of hundreds of employees, and service to countless communities across Texas and New Mexico. Yet he counts his greatest achievement as the years spent in Menard—impacting children, families, and the life of the community. His advice to all: Be happy, work hard, find what you love to do, and do it well. Love Jesus, your spouse, your family, your community, and help wherever—and whenever— you can.
Services A Celebration of Life Service for Jimmy “Mr. Jimmy” Rogers was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Menard Cowboy Church in Menard with Pastor Rusty Allen officiating. Friends may view Jimmy’s Memorial Video Tribute and/or sign his online memorial guest book at www.leatherwoodmemorialchapels. com.
Jimmy Rogers is survived by his loving wife of almost 61 years, Claudia; sons Leslie Rogers and Alan Rogers; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; several nieces, nephews and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters. Memorial contributions in memory of Jimmy Edward Rogers may be made to the Menard Boys & Girls Club, 213 East San Saba, Menard, Texas 76859, and/or the Menard Cowboy Church, 2711 Ryan Road, Menard, Texas 76859.