Ray Rodgers (Paperman)

Ray Rodgers, 64, of Rock Island, passed away Friday November 11, 2016 at Hope Creek Care Center, East Moline.

Funeral services will be 11:00am Thursday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00-7:00pm at the funeral home. Burial will be in National Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be left for a educational fund for his son, Joshua.

Ray Rodgers was born on August 4, 1952, in Charleston, Missouri to the late Bryant Rodgers and the late Amanda Rodgers Butler.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents, as well as 6 brothers, and 3 sisters.

He was educated from Charleston Schools and attended the University of Chicago.

Mr. Rodgers was a United States Army Veteran.

He had been employed by Modern Woodman and Combined Insurance Companies. Ray also was a DJ at various clubs in his earlier years.

Ray leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 26 years Diane Reyes Rodgers, three sons, Demetrias Rodgers of Richmond, Virginia, Marquis Rodgers of Naperville, Illinois, Joshua Rodgers of Rock Island, Illinois and two daughters, Latisha Rodgers of Atlanta, Georgia,  Brittany Rodgers of Rock Island, Illinois. He also leaves three lovely grandchildren, Jordan, Jayden  and Ava.

He leaves eight brothers, Willie Curtis (Mary Francis) of Bowie Md., Fred Rodgers of Charleston, Missouri, Lenzey Rodgers (Sonia) of Fort Mitchell Alabama, Bobby Moore of Sikeston, Michael Rodgers of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Sherdell Briggs (wife name) of Iowa City, Tommy Briggs of Sunnyvale, California, Wiley Reed of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Additionally, he leaves five sisters, Dianna Gorden of Florissant, Missouri, Amanda Williams (Steve), Cindy Rodgers, Rosie Graham, and Shirley Murray, all of Charleston, Missouri. He also leaves to cherish his memory, his mother-in-law Beverly Johnson of Moline, Illinois, two sisters-in-laws, Brenda Rodgers of Charleston, Missouri and Lori Reyes of Moline, Illinois.  Along with brother in laws, William Johnson, Rock Island, Illinois, Tim Reyes, Moline, Illinois, Christopher Reyes (Chris) Plainfield, Illinois and Michael Reyes, (Taryn ) Knoxville, Tennessee. He also leaves a very special friend and "partner in crime" Tim Friday. A host of other relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins, and very close friends.