AMBER LYNN MIZELL ROGERS

The Christmas song "O Holy Night" filled Asbury United Methodist Church's sanctuary Saturday as more than 1,000 people gathered to remember slain bank teller Amber Rogers.

Never mind that it's summer. The song was her favorite, from her favorite time of the year.

That tidbit about Rogers, 26, was one of many shared by the Rev. Tom Harrison during the memorial service.

Rogers was the wife of Bryan Rogers, the daughter of James and Deborah Mizell, the sister of Brecka Bagby and Tressie Lauritsen, and family and friend to many others.

But she also was an unlucky driver with several fender-benders. She liked to talk in a British accent. She was messy. She drank strawberry limeades. She gave compliments.

She was a good listener. She hated doing situps. She enjoyed playing charades. She had pretty handwriting. And she loved watching Sooner football.

Little things that made Rogers who she was are now missed by so many people, Harrison said.

"The years she lived, she lived well," he said. "That's a lesson she left us with."

Rogers began working at First Fidelity Bank at 2642 E. 21st St. in the spring of 2003.

She liked the job because of the people she worked with and customers, the pastor said.

A co-worker recalled that Rogers was one of the only employees who could quickly say the full name of the bank and not get tongue-tied.

But her work day turned deadly Tuesday morning, when robbers opened fire in the bank, even though she had fully cooperated. Two others in the bank were wounded.

Four people have been charged in connection with the case, including three with first-degree murder.

Such a senseless act of violence leads many to ask "Why?" Harrison said.

"But knowledge won't change the fact that Amber is no longer with us," he said. "We must channel our anger in a proper way and trust in God that justice will be served."

Three dozen colorful flower bouquets decorated the sanctuary, along with a large framed photograph of Rogers in her wedding dress at Philbrook.

The 1995 Jenks High School graduate married her husband in 2001. The two met while attending the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in social work.

"Bryan told me, 'She just fell out of the sky,'" Harrison said.

Although the couple did not have children, they doted on their dogs, including two Labrador retrievers named Bear and Birdie.

When Rogers arrived at Thanksgiving dinner one year without the pumpkin pies she was supposed to bring, she told everyone her dogs had eaten them -- and was serious.

Shortly before Rogers' death, she and her husband achieved their dream of buying a boat. They spent their last weekend together on the lake.

"Reach out to your family and friends and tell them you love them, Harrison urged the crowd. "We can't change yesterday, and we can't control tomorrow, but we can choose how we live today.

"Let's embrace life in the spirit of Amber Rogers."

Memorial contributions can be mailed to the Amber Rogers Fund at First Fidelity Bank, 2642 E. 21st St., Suite 290, Tulsa, OK 74114.

Her family will choose appropriate organizations to benefit from the fund.

Brian Barger 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com

Use Browser's "Back" Arrow To Return To Previous Page

* * * A QMS Deezyne * * *