Sandra McDaniel Rogers

Sandra McDaniel Rogers, a beloved wife, mother, MiMi, daughter, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully and surrounded by friends and family on July 2, 2026 in Abilene, Texas at the age of 65. She was born on September 18, 1960 in San Angelo, Texas to Ida Lou McDaniel and Bobby McDaniel. Visitation and Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at the Wylie Methodist Church, 3430 Antilley Road, with the visitation starting at 10:00 am and the service at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at the Clyde Cemetery on Hunt Street in Clyde, under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.  Jeff Hatcher will officiate. Pallbearers will be Scotty Allen, Bobby Rinker, David Anders, Terry Beasley, Greg Gober, and Dwain Gober.

Sandra was raised in Abilene as the middle child of three and the middle grandchild of five. She was also the only daughter and granddaughter in her family, a distinction that made her especially cherished. Her lifelong nickname, "SuSu," was given to her by a cousin who couldn't pronounce "Sandra." It wasn't long before everyone knew SuSu was the “boss,” and she carried both the nickname and that spirited reputation throughout her life.

As a young girl, she was a member of the Brownies and attended Reagan Elementary. Next, she attended Lincoln Middle School where she truly enjoyed her time with friends and lovingly reflected on those memories as some of her favorites. She then went on to attend Cooper High School where she was a member of the Tri-Hi-Y Club and at 18, became the youngest person to earn a Real Estate license through their VOE work program.

Sandra devoted 37 years of her life to State Farm Insurance Company where she worked with four different agents throughout her career. She proudly “bled State Farm red” and was known for her exceptional dedication and care to her customers and co-workers. She had a remarkable gift for efficiently solving problems and making people feel like family. Whether you had known her for decades or had just walked through her door, Sandra welcomed you with warmth, honesty, and unwavering loyalty.

Sandra's greatest joy was her family. She was a proud wife, devoted mother, and cherished MiMi. She was also a mother figure to many others that she connected with along life’s journey, never hesitating to offer advice, support, or a listening ear to those who needed her love and support. She enjoyed traveling, visiting with her children and grandchildren, attending concerts, quilting and sewing, Bunco and game nights, her Nugent family, cheering (loudly) for the Dallas Cowboys, working in the yard with Gary, enjoying time outside with their chickens, and spending time with her beloved dog, Shey.

Although cooking was never her favorite pastime, she became famous among family and friends for her hot potato salad—a holiday tradition everyone anticipated. She was equally well known for her firm belief in an early bedtime. Even as a child, she appointed herself the family's bedtime police, famously dragging her younger brother to bed by his ear on a nightly basis.

Sandra was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, where she joined the congregation in 1962. She had a deep knowledge of the Bible, and her faith remained an important foundation throughout her life.

Sandra welcomed her only daughter, Stephanie Blake, with her first husband, Scott Blake, on June 14, 1987. She longed to be a mother and after years of trying was so happy to have a baby of her own. She embraced motherhood and all its challenges with the love and devotion that would define the rest of her life. She was as devoted to her grandchildren as she was to her children and was always a steady and loving source of care and support.

Sandra married Gary Rogers on May 23, 1997, after 5 years of dating and together they shared 29 years of happy marriage. She appreciated the steady and loving nature that Gary provided and loved him with all her heart until the very end. She also gained another child through this union, Jaden Rogers, whom she loved and raised as her own alongside her husband from the time he was a small child. She was fiercely loyal, endlessly positive, brutally honest, and loved with her whole heart. If Sandra loved you, you knew it.

Sandra is survived by her husband, Gary Rogers; her mother, Ida Lou McDaniel; her mother-in-law, Sue Yancy; her children, Stephanie (Blake) Degrate and Jaden Rogers; her children-in-law, Christopher Degrate I and Elsa Throckmorton; her grandchildren, Jacey Smith, D’Andre Grismore, Sanai Degrate, and Christopher Degrate II; six bonus grandchildren; four bonus great-grandchildren; her brothers, Gary “Bubba” McDaniel and wife Trish, and Brendan McDaniel and wife Gina; her nephew, Brendan “Jay” McDaniel and wife Bailey; her aunt, Billie “Hudson” Gober and Wylie Gober; and her uncle, James “Jim” Norvell Hudson Jr. and Mary Alice Hudson.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bobby McDaniel, and her grandparents, Ida Maude Neighbors Hudson and James Norvell “J.N.” Hudson.

Sandra never met a shade of pink she didn't love. Family and friends are invited to honor her memory by wearing a little—or a lot—of pink as we celebrate her beautiful life.

May we never forget her favorite bible verse:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13