Eddie Leonard Rogers

Eddie Leonard Rogers passed away peacefully in his sleep at Signature Healthcare with no ailments to complain of on March 1, 2022. Just weeks shy of his 90th birthday, he was born in Cleveland TN on April 12, 1932 to the late Grace Rogers and lived here most all of his life.

He was a graduate of the Bradley Central High School Class of 1950 where he was a baseball team standout. His pitching skills got him recruited to Bowater Southern Paper Corporation for their fastpitch softball team in the early 60’s and he was a welder there for nearly 40 years. Besides his welding expertise, Eddie was well-known around the mill for making coffee and telling tales. In the 70’s, he had a great time chatting with people in many countries over his CB and ham radios where he used the call name “Hawg Hunter”. He loved watching UT football and the Atlanta Braves, reading novels and Bass fishing. One of his proudest memories was earning a certified world record by catching a 69-lb catfish that he nicknamed “Amos” on a 6-lb test line. He was one of the founding members of Cleveland Community Chapel where he made many great friends and enjoyed worshipping and serving together. He was a Mason, a Shriner and a member of the American Legion Post 81.

In addition to his mother, Eddie was preceded in death by his first wife, Dennie Jo Richards Rogers. Their family who survives them are: 2 daughters, Denise Rogers Callais and Krystal Rogers Miller and her husband, Randy; 2 granddaughters, Rachel Callais Bennett and her husband, Drew and Eva Callais and 3 great-grandsons, David, Paul and Luke Bennett.

Eddie was also preceded in death by his second wife, Bernice Chastain Rogers and leaves behind her siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to cherish his memory.

A celebration of Eddie’s life will be held at 6:00pm on Sunday, March 6, 2022 at the Cleveland chapel of Companion Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Tazz Reid. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 preceding the service.

In lieu of flowers or houseplants, please consider a memorial donation to either:
**Cleveland Community Chapel located at 1823 Forest Ridge Dr SW, Cleveland, TN 37311. You can call 423.584.2231 for more information OR to
**Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Information can be found at https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/giving.