In December 2025, Georgia Rogers passed away and joined her husband Frank Rogers Sr.
Georgia was born in May 1937 in Canada, moving to Washington when she was a child. She and her parents and siblings lived for a time in Shelton, Washington, where she started school.
Georgia met her husband, Frank Rogers when she was in high school and was working at an ice cream parlor called the Top Hat. Frank had just completed four years in the Army when they met. They married in 1954, bought a house and settled down in Shelton where Frank worked at Rainier Pulp and Paper Mill. That mill closed in 1957 and Frank then worked at the Shelton Safeway store as a butcher. Their first four children, Don, Sandra, Debbie and Frank Jr., were born in Washington.
Head hunters from the newly built Alaska Lumber & Pulp Mill (ALP) in Sitka, Alaska, went to Shelton to contact workers who lost jobs at Rainier Pulp and Paper Mill to offer jobs at the new facility in Sitka. Many of the Sheltonites accepted the job offer and moved to Sitka. Frank was one of them and moved to Sitka before Alaska was a state in 1959 with his son Don, so he could start school. Georgia stayed behind to sell the house and pack and she then joined Frank and Don later in 1959. They purchased a home in 1960, which they have owned ever since.
The last three children of Frank and Georgia were born in Sitka: Deanna, Joelle, and Hally. While Georgia was a stay-at-home mother, she did go to work for Red and Helen Allen at their store, a Quonset hut in the 800 block of Halibut Point Road. It was a restaurant first, then a clothing store called the Smart Shop, and then a second-hand store before it eventually closed. After that Georgia went to work for Sitka Community Hospital in housekeeping, eventually becoming supervisor until her retirement.
The family was very active at their church, St. Gregory’s Catholic Church. Georgia and Frank volunteered at the church in many roles. Throughout the years Georgia taught CCD classes, cleaned the church, washed the linens, and headed rummage and bake sales. Both she and Frank were on the Rosary Committee and volunteered at the Sitka Pioneers Home, visiting friends and meeting new ones. They helped out with activities there and helped care and pray with people who had no family. They were also godparents to numerous children.
Georgia and Frank liked to travel after retiring, going to Hawaii, Mexico, and Las Vegas. Since they had family in Washington, they made several trips there as well.
When Frank passed away in 2010, Georgia had her grandson Kelcy move in with her. He kept her company and did odd jobs. Georgia enjoyed getting together for dinner with her widow friends and others from church after Saturday night Mass.
The family expressed special thanks to Brian O’Callahan for driving Georgia to church weekly, as she didn’t drive. As Georgia developed dementia in her later years, Kelcy took great care of her so she could stay living in her home. He cooked, cleaned, read and prayed with his grandma. He also kept in touch with Georgia's out-of-town family and friends to keep everyone posted with updates. Other children of Georgia’s stepped up to entertain, shop, fix, cook meals and help keep things running.
Special thanks also were given to Deacon Ron Matthews for faithfully visiting Georgia/Kelcy every week, taking them Mass readings and communion; to Margaret Swanson for her frequent visits and taking food; Mary Beth Palof for visiting with Brave Heart Volunteers; and all the others who sent cards, brought flowers, goodies, and such. Pat Ridley and Sharon Jacobs were two of Georgia's close and dear friends, as well.
Georgia was preceded in death by her mom, dad, husband Frank, daughter Sandra, son Don, and brother Carl. Her other brother Ed also recently died.
She is survived by her sister Betty. Other surviving family members are her daughter Debbie of Washington; son Frank (Nicole) of Sitka; daughter Deanna (Lee) of Sitka; daughter Joelle (Bill) of Fairbanks; and daughter Hally (Justin) of Colorado.
Also surviving are granddaughters Amanda (Andy) of Washington; Aubrey (Rob) of Washington; Heather Rogers of Sitka; Amber (Eric) of Juneau; Kayla (Ben) of Oregon; and Addison of Colorado.
Grandsons are Mark of Fairbanks, Frank of Juneau, Kelcy of Sitka and Ethan of Colorado.
Great-grandchildren are Austin and Kelley and their children Rowan and Everly, of Washington; Savannah of Washington; Carter and Gavin, Washington; Dulce of Fairbanks; Sullivan Albertson of Sitka; Isla of Juneau; and Adler and Harlow of Oregon.
The family will host a celebration of Georgia's life 2-4 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at St. Gregory’s Catholic in the basement.
"There will be pictures, food and remembrances of Georgia’s 65 years in Sitka," her family said. "Please come and share stories of her."
