Matthew Lee Rogers

July 9, 1969 – March 16, 2022

 

Corning, Kansas – Matt Rogers age 52, of Corning, Kansas, passed away, on March 16, 2022, after a thirty-month battle with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). He was determined to fight the cancer and gave it his all while never complaining and always showing his amazing smile.

Matt was born July 9,1969 in Leavenworth, Kansas. Matt was adopted from birth by Earl and Marilyn Rogers of Prairie Village. He has one sister, Monica Ortiz. He spent his early years in Prairie Village, Kansas, where he was involved in football and baseball. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1987. After high school, Matt attended Johnson County Community College then Kansas Newman where he played baseball. He graduated from Kansas Newman with his Bachelor of Science in 1992.

He met his wife, Cary Rogers in the spring of 1992 while he was a clubhouse manager for the Wichita Wranglers AAA baseball team. They were united in marriage on June 11, 1994 in Wichita, KS where they resided until 2005. Matt and Cary welcomed their first daughter, Breanne in 1995, their second daughter, Amanda in 1999, and their son, Brett in 2004 while living in Wichita.

Matt had a life-long career in education. He taught biology and environment science at Valley Center High School from 1993 – 2005. He was an assistant football and baseball coach there. He completed his Masters of Arts in Teaching from Friends University in 1999. He took the head baseball coaching position at Wichita Trinity in 2003 while still teaching at VCHS.

He went on to complete his building leadership certification in 2005 from Kansas Newman. Matt and his family moved to Smith Center where he began his role as a school administrator at Smith Center High School as the assistant principal in 2005. He then spent the next 12 years at Parsons High School as the assistant principal/athletic director then the principal. He completed his district leadership certification in 2017. He has been the superintendent of USD 380 Vermilion for the past four years.

Matt was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joseph and Margaret Murnane and Gale and Carrie Rogers, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is survived by his wife Cary and their three children: Breanne Smith (Tyler Smith) of Grandview, Amanda Rogers (Lucas Turner) of Overland Park, and Brett Rogers of the home; his parents, Earl and Marilyn (Murnane) Rogers of Prairie Village; his sister, Monica Ortiz of Prairie Village; and in-laws, Ken and Carol Hertel, of Wichita; as well as extended family members, friends, coworkers, former students, athletes, and teammates.

Matt was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish, golf, camp, kayak, and cook for friends and family. He was a diehard KC Chiefs and Royals fan. Matt supported the Chiefs his whole life. Those close to him cherished his weekly pregame Chiefs videos. Matt loved playing baseball and continued that love by playing fast-pitch softball until he was 40. He hung up the game by throwing his bat into the Lake after playing in the men’s 40 and over 2009 national fast pitch championship.

His greatest loves were his wife, children and emotional support dog Nomi. He named Nomi after his carcinoma. We later found out that she was born on the same day he was diagnosed with cancer. Matt had the biggest heart. He cherished all of his family, friends, staff and students. He thrived to make sure all students succeeded. Others frequently commented on his amazing smile as he battled this beast of a cancer. As his family and friends always say, “he is the strongest, guy we know.”

A rosary will be held at St. Patrick Church 6606 Atlantic St, Corning, KS on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Funeral will follow at 11:00. Live-streaming will be available on the St. Patrick’s Parish – Corning, KS Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1699338376879407/?ref=share

One thing about Matt Rogers was his love for his teams. He was an avid Chiefs, Royals, Kansas Newman Jets, Valley Center Hornets, Smith Center Redman, Parsons Vikings, Centralia Panthers and Frankfort Wildcats. We ask that everyone wear casual dress supporting the Chiefs, Royals, or your school, as it is what he would have wanted.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to:

Matt Rogers educational fund, c/o First Heritage Bank, Corning Branch 6501 Main Street, Corning, KS 66417