Checotah lost a longtime resident and friend to all last Wednesday, when God called home Rev. Roy Rogers.

Rogers had served as an evangelist, for a while, before he was called to pastor at Gowan Faith Assembly of God, the First Assembly of God in Dixon, MO, and then later at Checotah at the First Assembly of God for 14 years.

Rogers also served as the pastor of Destiny Church for three years before he retired from preaching and began driving the KATS bus, which gave him the privilege to minister in other areas.

He loved playing the guitar, singing, riding horses, working on old cars and tractors, but all who knew him knew of his love for the Lord. Rogers will be remembered by his family and community as a Godly man, who was constant, strong, and always helping anyone who needed help.

One priceless act Rogers will always be remembered for is his reading of a blessing at Checotah City Council meetings, the Checotah Police Department, and other businesses in the Checotah community. Though he will be greatly missed his legacy lives on as do his words: “God bless you with ability, abundance, and make His angels go with you and give you assurance of His love and grace. May He bless you with clear direction and bless you with a controlled, disciplined life. May God bless you with courage, creativity, and spiritual perception of His truth, and with faith I pray that you find favor with men and God, have good health and a wonderful family. I also pray that your hands be blessed that you may bless others. May God bless you with happiness, fulfillment, contentment, hope, and may you have a good outlook on life. May you also have a long life, a listening ear and an obedient heart to the spirit of God to be blessed with the peace of God. May you have pleasant speech, a good personality, promotion, protection, provision, safety, and strength. May you also with success trust wisdom, goodness, and mercy to follow you all the days of your life because you are the house He lives in.”