Elizabeth Judy Rodgers

Elizabeth "Judy" Rowland Rodgers, 104 of Madisonville, KY passed away Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Ridgewood Terrace in Madisonville.
She was born, June 16, 1911 in McCracken Co., KY to the late William Connie Rowland and Eleanor Funston Rowland. Her family came to Paducah from Henderson, KY, on a flat bottomed boat carrying their possessions and livestock.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister (Vivian Rowland) and a brother (William"Punch" Edward Rowland) and two grandchildren Thomas Holland Rodgers, Jr. and William Hoy Traylor and one great-grandchild (Katie Lynn Phebus). Also, preceded her in death was her husband, Thomas Wassell Rodgers, in 1985 and one daughter, Jeanetta Traylor in 1999.
Her father nicknamed her and her brother Punch & Judy after the Punch & Judy Show. They went by those nicknames their entire life.
She attended Western Kentucky University and Murray State University. She taught school at Farley School in McCracken Co. and Waddell Avenue Elementary School in Hopkins Co. During the 1937 flood, her superintendent asked that the teachers work for the Red Cross. So, she went in a boat down the streets of Paducah to deliver food and blankets to people who were trapped in their homes.
She was an active member of the First Methodist Church of Madisonville.
She was the first vice president of Kentucky State P.T.A.
She was the first vice president of the Garden Club of Kentucky and an avid gardener.
She was the first woman to serve on the board of the Madisonville County Club and was appointed a Kentucky Colonel on her 100th birthday.
She is survived by one son, Thomas Holland Rodgers of Madisonville, KY
Six grandchildren - Carol Jane (Tony) Phebus of Hanson, KY; , Judy Comstock of Louisville, KY; Dr. Cathy (Perri) Carnes of Denver, CO; Jennifer (Rob) Whitfield of Hopkinsville, KY; Susan (Barry) Edmonson of Madisonville, KY and Mark Rodgers. Nine great-grandchildren - Michele (Kyle) Johnson, Tyler Rummage, Sarah (Clay) Wallace, Jake Comstock, Hannah Carnes, Olivia Carnes, Sam Carnes, Kara Whitfield and Alexis Whitfield. Two great-great granddaughters - Keltie Anne Elizabeth Wallace and Emma Elizabeth Johnson.
Also, survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Monday, January 25, 2016 at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home with Rev. Dale Carden officiating. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Visitation will be 11:00 A.M. until service time on Monday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers are Tyler Rummage, Jake Comstock, Sam Carnes, Tony Phebus, Rob Whitfield and Barry Edmonson. Honorary Pallbearers are Dee Teague, Ricky Parks, Lucien Ruby, Butch Utley, Dr. Jim Rogers, Dr. Perri Carnes, George Pearce, Jerry Rodgers, David Rodgers, and Jim Miner.