Palestine High School Alumni Association

A memorial service with the Rev. Ted Welty officiating will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014 at 10 a.m. at St. Philips Episcopal Church with graveside to follow in the City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home on Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Marilee is survived by her daughter, Melinda Lee Seibel and her husband Charles, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and locally, by her son, Jack Christopher (Chris) Rogers and his wife Toni; nephew, Bill Gray and his wife Karen; devoted friend, Bobby Boyd; and a favorite aunt, Erma Meador, of Jacksonville, Texas.

She remains beloved Nana to Charles Christopher Seibel of Oklahoma City, Okla., Amanda Seibel Patterson, and her husband, Sgt. Anthony Patterson and their daughters Kierstyn and Kenzie, of Ansbach, Germany, Christine Seibel Dressel and her husband, Toby of Huntsville, Ala., Rebecca Ann Rogers of Palestine, Alice Rogers Simien and her husband, Jon and their three children, Izabel, Daimean, and Elan, of Dallas, and Jack William Rogers of Spring.

After losing her father at the age of 11, Marilee realized the importance of independence and the strength behind education. After graduation from Palestine High School in 1957 she attended the University of Houston on full academic scholarship. She married the late Jack W. Rogers in 1958 and raised her children and was a generous servant in our community during his political career as Mayor of Palestine. She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, a past member of Pionette Garden Club, and the Palestine Jr. Service League.

She loved The Lord and she loved her church. She was a member of St. Philips Episcopal Church and was an active servant as a member of The Daughters of the King and the Alter Guild. She was a Layreader, Chalicer, Server, and Community of Hope Lay Chaplain.

After raising her children, Marilee returned to college to earn her Associates of Arts degree at Henderson County Junior College and moved on to The University of Texas at Tyler to earn her Bachelor of Science degree. She used her education, talent, and life experience to touch the lives of many children throughout her 10 years working in the Palestine Independent School District Early Childhood program. While working as a teacher she worked nights as a hostess at The Ranch House where she could be spotted holding court on Wednesday nights with her church group.

Marilee was a member of the YMCA as a child and remained active throughout her life. She loved exercise and the YMCA community and in recent years could be seen regularly sparring with the 42 players in a heated game.

Marilee loved to travel. She visited Italy, Greece, the Holy Land, Paris, Rome, Germany, and Canada, the Bahamas and Mexico as well as many of the United States. She traveled by train, boat, car and plane, by herself, with friends as well as many high school students. Her last trip was to Oklahoma City, to see her newest great-granddaughter, Kenzie in 2012.

She has finally arrived at the destination of her dreams in God’s Beautiful Kingdom. She is most likely teaching a class or playing some sort of game surrounded by all of God’s people having a very large time. She will be greatly missed.

The family suggests memorials be given to St. Philips Episcopal Church, Meals on Wheels of Palestine, the Palestine YMCA or your favorite charity.

View online at www.herringtonfuneral.com.