Oma Lea Rogers

Oma Lea Pitcher Rogers

February 12, 1949 - March 3, 2025

 Oma Lea was born at the General Hospital in Enid on February 12, 1949, to Charlie E. and Hazel R. Stockwell Pitcher and passed from this life on March 3, 2025 in Enid. She grew up on the family farm ½ mile east of Medford and lived her entire life near Medford except for five years (1971-1976) while living in Ponca City. She attended all twelve years at Medford Public School, graduating in 1967. She then graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva with a BS degree in Elementary Education in December, 1970. Oma Lea was church organist for the Medford Congregational Church from age 14 to 21, and was the organist for numerous weddings and funerals during this time. 

Oma Lea married Coleman David “Dave” Rogers on July 11, 1970. To this union of 17 years three wonderful children were born: David, Lea Anne, and Daniel. Oma Lea loved to work. She helped her dad on the farm by hauling hay, working ground, driving a harvest truck, and painting the out-buildings. She enjoyed mowing grass, especially when the family got a Snapper riding lawnmower. She didn’t like to gather eggs for fear she’d run into an opossum, skunk, or snake in a hen’s nest, like she had numerous times. She helped her mom in the house with less enthusiasm, but despite this, she became a decent cook and housekeeper. 

While in high school she delivered dry cleaning for Oliver’s Cleaners and was a checker at Guerney Jones’ Hub Food Grocery Store. While in college at NWOSU she taught GED math classes in area towns which included Medford. She graduated from college at midterm and wasn’t able to find a teaching job; she drove to Enid for six months to work at the newly opened Halfway House on the campus of Enid State School for a salary of $300 per month. In August, 1971, she and her husband moved to Ponca City, and she began teaching a combined first and second grade class at Kildare Elementary School at a wage of $6,000 per year. In the five years she was at Kildare, she taught first, second, fifth, and sixth grades and served as a teaching principal for the final three years. In May, 1976, the family, which now included one year old David, moved back to Medford to help Oma Lea’s parents with the farming operation. Oma Lea stayed home for seven years to raise the growing family, which now included Lea Anne and Daniel, but managed to start Kiddie Korner Preschool with her dear friend, Patty Mennem and to take an EMT class in 1980.

In 1984, she taught a seventh grade class at Lamont High School for one semester. The following school year she began teaching first grade (16 years) and later third grade (11 years) at Deer Creek-Lamont Public Schools. She was chosen by her peers as Teacher of the Year in 2004. She retired from teaching in May, 2011.

Oma Lea was an EMT for the Medford Ambulance Service from 1980-2013 and served as the In-House Instructor and Director for many of those years. She had numerous summer jobs. Among them were owning and operating a fireworks stand with the family beginning in 1981, when Daniel was just five months, and with Lea Anne’s help continuing still today, driving trucks (which included a semi) and tractors for Bill and Carmen Schulz for several summers, serving as manager and lifeguard at the Medford City Pool for three years, was a census Enumerator in 2000 and 2010, was clock-keeper at the Medford Cardinal’s basketball game for 14 years and during those same years kept the gate at the DCLA Eagles’ basketball games. After retiring from teaching she told her son, David that she felt worthless since she didn’t have a job, so she found one at Lanman Funeral Home in Medford and thus began her new adventure in August, 2011. She also delivered meals for Wheatheart Nutrition and was coordinator with George Bocox for the Red Cross Bloodmobile in Medford.

Oma Lea was baptized into the Medford First Christian Church on April 2, 1961 by Rev. Larick, and was also a member of the Miriam Circle.

She loved her children, her grandchildren, her girlfriends, cousins, Letha and Keith, her classmates from MHS 1967, laughing, talking, giving advice, dancing, planning for the future, teaching children, going to her children’s school functions with sports being the highlight, helping others, and working. God played a big part in her later life and she credits Him with saving her in 2008 when she was near death.

Oma Lea is preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Hazel Pitcher and her first born, David Charles Rogers at the age of 38.

Her survivors include her children, Lea Anne Rogers Shelton of Medford, Daniel Rogers and wife, Alea, of Medford; grandchildren, Ryan Shelton, Charlee Nicole and Corbin David Rogers.

Celebration of Life service for Oma Lea will be Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Medford High School Auditorium at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Rosemound Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Medford. Viewing will be Friday from10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. with family present from 4:00 until 6:00. www.lanmanfuneralhome.com Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be given to Medford First Christian Church, the 1893 Land Run Historical Center or Rosemound Cemetery through the funeral home. Please make checks to the organization.