Judith Rodgers

Judy Rodgers Judith Ann (Naeve) Rodgers, 74, of Goreville, IL went to be with her Lord and Savior at 6:00 a.m., Monday, December 3, 2012 in the Hillview Healthcare Center, Vienna. Judy is the daughter of G. Theodore and Hulda M. (Genz) Naeve. She was born July 28, 1938 in Chicago and was raised in Kankakee, IL with a large extended family. She married Franklin Leon “Lee” Rodgers on Saturday, August 15, 1959 at the St. John’s United Church of Christ (E & R) in Kankakee. They have celebrated 53 years together in marriage. Mrs. Rodgers is survived by her husband, Lee of Goreville; children, Jeff (Ed Kruger) of Louisville, KY; Kent (Lisa) of Bloomington, IN; Leanne Rodgers Courson of Mahomet, IL; and Melody (Phil) Plisky of Evansville, IN. She has ten grandchildren who fondly called her GoGo: Julia, Logan, Savannah and Sierra Rodgers; Tyler and Zachary Courson; Cody, Austin, Wyatt and Sawyer Plisky; several cousins, many friends and a loving church family. Judy was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Thomas E. and Dimple I. (Cash) Rodgers of Goreville, IL and an infant son Timothy Lee Rodgers in 1960. Judy, an only child, experienced great joy when she learned later in life of her birthparents, Eunice Beutien and Virgil LaMore, and her siblings: Sandra LaMore, Marjorie Bryant, Roger LaMore, Jo Lee LaMore, Greg LaMore, Lynn Renelt and Tracy Stringer. Mrs. Rodgers was an active member of the Aldersgate UMC in Marion. She enjoyed teaching others about the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. She taught many Kay Arthur - Precept Ministries courses and enjoyed visiting the Holy Land on one of Kay’s trips. She loved to sew, do various crafts, study the Bible, swim and read. She taught hundreds of people across Central Illinois, both young and young at heart, to swim. In addition, Judy was an accomplished painter. Judy had a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Illinois State Normal University, and when her oldest child went to college and the youngest started kindergarten she returned to teaching full time. She enjoyed telling others that she started several kindergarten programs for her superintendent husband before kindergartens were required. Mrs. Rodgers enjoyed spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren. She attended hundreds of ballgames when her husband was coaching or her children or grandchildren were playing, along with many school teams, the Illini and the St. Louis Cardinals; she usually had a book with her just in case the game lost her interest. Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 5th in the Blue Funeral Home in Goreville with Rev. Tim Ozment officiating. Visitation will be from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Cana Cemetery, north of Goreville. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc. Envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959..