Gregory Duane Rodgers

Gregory Duane “Greg” Rodgers, 46, left this life December 17, 2014. He was born in Oklahoma City on September 8, 1968. He is survived by his mother, Sheron Rodgers, Warr Acres, Oklahoma, and his two sisters — Robyn Fansler, Oklahoma City, and Dondi Rodgers, Warr Acres, and his grandmother, Mae Folsom, Warr Acres. He was predeceased by his father, Al Rodgers, and grandparents Ralph and Pauline Rodgers and R.L. “Tubby” Folsom. Greg enjoyed a delightful relationship — as “Uncle Greggy” — with nieces and nephews Chris, Carly, Lexi, Cameron, Stevie and Dylan Fansler and Malachie Rodgers. Greg graduated from Putnam City High School in 1984. He was interested in everything. He loved his family and friends, meeting new people and traveling to new places. He had a brilliant mind and a boundless curiosity. A proud member of the Choctaw Nation, he was a lifelong learner, graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Native American Studies. He became a Choctaw Storyteller of national renown. He wrote three books — “The Ghost of Mingo Creek and Other Spooky Oklahoma Legends,” “One Dark Night in Oklahoma” and a highly popular children’s book, “Chukfi Rabbit’s Big Bad Bellyache.” He was a member of the Territory Tellers of Oklahoma. As an oral performer, Greg was a quiet genius, ushering the audience down a path of faith and fear and always ending in triumph of the good. Those fortunate enough to have seen him perform the Trail of Tears story, “Harriet’s Burden” will never forget that experience. He will be with us as a Rabbit Trickster, a protective Panther and a spirit Canine. In August 2012, he moved to Urbana-Champaign to attend the University of Illinois to pursue his master’s degree in creative writing. As part of that program, he taught numerous classes and was respected and liked by both students and faculty. He had a generous heart, freely sharing his time and talents with others. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, he traveled throughout the country conducting workshops and telling stories before audiences of thousands. He was a member of a large and loving extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who are devastated by his death at such an early age. In the preface of his first, and as yet unpublished, novel, he wrote: “Our Choctaw homelands speak to us in many voices. They are mostly soft and caring — summer rain dripping through a forest of tall pines, wind whistling across a mountain lake, rippling the waters — but on the worst of nights, the land emits a terrible scream. Our places can feel pain, deep and connected to all. They know of death, and life, and death again.” In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to The Greg Rodgers Book Fund for purchasing “Read for Fun” books for Choctaw elementary school children. Please make checks payable to ATALM (Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums), 6308 Harden Drive, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118 or visit https://atalm.formstack.com/forms/grfund. Alternatively, memorials may be sent to Deer Creek Riding Center, 17 Coffee Creek Road, Edmond, Oklahoma 73034. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gregory Duane Rodgers please visit our Sympathy Store.