Curt Rogers

Ralph Curtis “Curt” Rogers, 90, of Bryant, AL passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Bryant Chapel of Moore Funeral Home.  Entombment will follow at Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery in Bryant, AL.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET and Saturday from 11:00 AM until the funeral hour.

As a young man, Curt discovered the thrill of fast Fords and became skilled at driving them and squeezing more speed from them. It wasn't unusual to see him slinging dirt as he sped around local tracks. He could bang fenders with the best of them. Maybe that dirt somehow got in his bloodstream, because it played a role in his life from then on.

His love for cars led to skills as a mechanic. He would work various jobs throughout his life turning wrenches and mashing fingers. Eventually he opened and ran Bryant Auto Center. It wasn't unusual for him to work on a car for a couple of days and then charge the owner four or five dollars for his time. His motto was always, “Treat others the way that you would like to be treated”.

His love for dirt manifested itself in another way. In the early 70's, he became a full-fledged potato farmer. From turning the field, to planting, and then harvesting, he gave it everything that he had. Many a young person in Bryant began their working career in those fields being mentored on a harvester. Along those same lines, he loved to garden. Many knew him for his beans, corn, and tomatoes.

But Curt was so much more than a racer, mechanic, or farmer. He was the type of man that thrived on helping others. Many a time I've watched him, while he was driving the bus to, or from a game, hand money to a young Bryant basketball player when the bus would stop at a roadside dairy bar. He was the richest man that I've ever known, but not in money. His wealth was in friends.

He was a wonderful dad who loved his kids If anything surpassed his love for his kids, it was his love for his grand kids, and even further still, his love for his great-grandchildren.

His partner in life, Betty Ann, was also his sidekick when it came to loafering. They loved to travel together, and with many of their good friends. He loved to go to the beach, wade out into the ocean, flip over on his back and float like a bar of Ivory soap. For 66 years they ran the roads until it just became too difficult for him.

He's struggled a bit with his body wearing out, but his spirit was strong until the end. He loved Jesus and knew that the feeling was mutual. On Thursday night, Jesus swung the Pearly Gates open and Curt saw the most beautiful sights his eyes had ever seen. He was reunited with loved ones that had made the trip before him and he experienced worshiping in an up close and personal way.

He'll be missed but we'll see him again.   

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Betty Ann Rogers; children, Kyla Bell, Chris (Marianne) Rogers, Hal Rogers, and Darren (Brenda) Rogers; sister, Vala Murphy; grandchildren, Bryson (Alisa) Rogers, Brodie (Dara) Rogers, Brilee (Nathan) Johnson, Bethany (Johnathan) Davis, Cody Rogers, Taylor (Blake) Cooper, A.D. (Whitney) Rogers, and Eric “Rock” Rogers; 14 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Curt was preceded in death by parents, Hobert Rogers and Marie Gothard Avans; siblings, Faye Maples, Dorothy Rogers, Ruth Laney, Clara Reeves, Harold Rogers, Ilona Cope, Danny Joe Avans, and Dub Avans; and granddaughter, Celina Rogers.

Bryson Rogers, Brodie Rogers, A.D. Rogers, Eric “Rock” Rogers, Cody Rogers, Johnathan Davis, Nathan Johnson, and Marty Winters will serve as pallbearers.

Visit www.MooreFHS.com to share expressions of sympathy and view his memorial tribute.

Arrangements by Moore Funeral Home, Bryant, AL.