Roger Doyle Southard was born June13, 1951, in Fairfax, Missouri, the third of five children born to Winfred Doyle and Esther Lorayne (Rolofson) Southard. Roger passed away unexpectedly on August 5, 2024, in Palisade, Colorado. He attended Tarkio, Missouri, schools, graduating in 1969. He dearly loved playing football and ended his high school career as an All State Center.

On January 23, 1971, Roger married Nancy Suzanne Davis of Fairfax. They made their first home in Liberty, Missouri, while he and Suzanne worked in the Kansas City area. In August of that year they moved back to Fairfax where they have lived until his death. He was a devoted father to their two children, Lisa Renea (1972) and Curtis Roger (1974).

After moving back to the rural area, Roger knew farming was his lifelong dream. He worked for Oswald Feed & Farm until March 1973 when he started farming with Suzanne’s dad. In 1974, Roger started custom farming and was then able to rent some farms through the years until his retirement in 2024. He worked additional jobs to aid his farming income until 1996, including Simmons MFA Service, Moorman’s Feed, bus driver for Fairfax schools, David Sly Carpentry, and James S. Smith Trucking. 

Roger was a member of the Westboro United Methodist Church until transferring membership to the Fairfax Methodist Church. His commitment to the church led him to serve in many positions.

Roger was a big supporter of Fairfax schools, helping with the scorekeeping and announcing of home football games for many years, as well as running the scoreboard for junior high and high school basketball games for 23 years. Roger was a member of the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years, holding positions of Treasurer, 2nd and 1st Assistant Chief, and being Fire Chief the last three years of his service.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Janet Sue; brother, Phil; brothers-in-law, Bill Shaffer and Gerald Hess; niece, Lauren Southard; and great-nephew, Damion Smith.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 53 years, Suzanne; daughter Lisa (Tony) Mitchell of Fairfax, and son Curtis (Dana) Southard, Wichita, Kansas; grandchildren, Tacy and Gena Mitchell, Payton, Benjamin, and Jameson Southard; and sisters, Barbara Hess, Oregon, Missouri, and Martha Shaffer, Fairfax. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews, and a host of other family and friends.

Family visitation was held Sunday, August 11, 2024, at the Fairfax Methodist Church, with a celebration of life being held Monday, August 12, with Rev. Brad Dush officiating. Inurnment was in the Center Grove Cemetery at Westboro, Missouri. Memorials can be made to Fairfax Methodist Church or Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department. Arrangements were under the direction of Schooler Funeral Home, Fairfax/Craig. Online condolences may be left at andrewshannfuneralhome.com.