Roger L. Pollard

Roger L. Pollard passed away Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas at the age of 70. He was born on February 24, 1946 to Charles R. and Wilma (Dixon) Pollard at their home in Coffeyville, Kansas. He graduated from Baxter Springs High School with the Class of 1964. He played 1 year of basketball for Coffeyville Community Junior College. He was drafted into the US Army in 1966 and earned the rank of Sergeant E-5 after only 18 months. Most of his service was spent at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. After the Army he returned to Labette Community College and Pittsburg State University receiving his bachelor and master’s degrees in accounting and business administration in 1973. On November 1, 1968 he was united in marriage to Georgia Lacen in Parsons, Kansas. They built a home north of Bartlett where Roger enjoyed gardening and working in his rock shop for 40 years. They were blessed with a daughter, Stacy, and enjoyed 48 years of marriage. While in college, Roger worked for the Kansas Army Ammunitions Plant. He worked briefly as an accountant in Parsons before going to work for the MKT Railroad. He retired as a conductor from the Union Pacific Railroad. He was an avid sports fan, especially of KU Basketball. In addition, he was the quintessential rock hound. A regular attender of the huge Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, he would find unique rocks from around the world which he enjoyed cutting, polishing, wire wrapping and selling at the many rock shows he attended across the country. He was a member of the Joplin Gem and Mineral Club. But the greatest love of his life was his family. Last June he moved to Hays, Kansas in order to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren. Roger is survived by his wife Georgia Pollard of Hays; daughter Stacy Ruder and husband Justin of rural WaKeeney; brother Rodney Pollard and wife Shelia of Branson, MO; two grandchildren, Easton and Mesa Ruder, with a third one on the way; and his dog Scooter. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Wilma Pollard, and brother, Ronnie Pollard. Roger was a hardworking man who was fun loving and adventurous at heart. He taught us daily to embrace life and live it on our own terms, cherish our time with those we love, and never take anyone or anything for granite, or granted, for that matter. He will be greatly missed, and we will cherish his memory in our hearts forever. A private family service will take place at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney at a later date. There will be no visitation. The family kindly requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to a charity of the donor’s choice or the Labette Baptist Church Building Fund, and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N 1st Street, Stockton, KS 67669. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.plumeroverlease.com