Merle Rodgers

Lord Brady Merle Rodgers I, Patriarch of the Rodgers family, passed away at home on the morning of Saturday, July 9, 2022, at the age of 88. Merle was born to George Washington and Leona Marie (York) Rodgers in George West, Texas on September 14th, 1933. He had two sisters, Jeanie and Dolly, and one brother, Jay. At George West High School, he Lettered in Football, Track and Field, Swimming, Basketball, and Tennis, and he earned his Associate of Science in Electrical Engineering from Odessa College. On March 15th, 1953, he married Barbara Holderman, with whom he had two daughters, Virginia Marie and Kathy Merle, and a son, Michael Wade. He remarried on May 22nd, 1960, to Marilyn Nadine Gentry and became the father of her three children, DeborAnn, Bruce Kent, and Richard Wayne. Together, they had one son, Brady Merle Rodgers II.

Merle was a businessman and entrepreneur. He began as a roughneck and worked his way up to ownership of hundreds of oil wells, sold heavy equipment, and became a commercial catastrophic insurance adjuster where his name will be recognized for years to come. In his spare time, he was an avid golfer, exceptional 42 player, and die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. He played on over 1000 courses across multiple continents and improved everyone he played with, none more so than his son, Brady, and John, his son-in-law, who advanced from novice to Single-Digit Handicap under his tutelage. His love of golf was surpassed only by his love for his soulmate, Nadine, who preceded him in death on May 18th, 2005. He was known for his quick wit, sound advice, and if he gave you his word, you could take it to the bank. Merle is survived by his first wife, one sister, Dolly, three children, DeborAnn, Virginia, and Brady, one son-in-law, John, who was his son in every way but blood, one daughter-in-law, Rebecca, twelve grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren including Ben, Kaiden, and Cassidy.

A Celebration of Life Party will be held on Thursday, July 14th, 2022, at the Pecan Plantation Country Club at 8650 Westover Ct in Granbury, TX at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the COPD Foundation (or send Scotch).