William Roger Bryant

On Friday, November 12, 2021, in Odessa, Texas, God called William, "Roger" Bryant home to his eternal reward at 85 years of age. Roger was born in Stanford, Kentucky, on August 20, 1936, the second child and first son of Geneva and James T. Bryant. When he was three years old, the family moved to Texas, where he lived the remainder of his life. He often said his first memory was crossing the Mississippi River during that move. Roger attended school in Ovalla, Hermleigh and Merkel and graduated from Wellman High School in 1954. He attended Tarleton College (now Tarleton State University), Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from West Texas State College (now West Texas A & M University) in 1964. Roger joined the U.S Marine Corps in 1958 and served in the Reserves until 1964. He was very proud of having served in the Marines and later in life was a life-time member of the Marine Corps League. Roger married Carla Jean Hopkins on July 21,1962. They lived in Amarillo, Mineral Wells and Houston before moving to Odessa 1976. They always worshiped and served in Baptist churches where Roger was active as a Sunday School teacher, a member of various committees and as a deacon at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston and First Baptist Church Odessa. He was the Basin Baptist Association RA (Royal Ambassadors) Director for a number of years and spent many good times camping with boys and adult leaders from the churches. Roger started his career with Southwestern Public Service in Plainview, became a Certified Corrosion Engineer, an insurance agent and eventually a math teacher at Permian High School and the Teen Parent Center. He taught the classroom portion of Drivers Ed to hundreds of young people at Odessa College where he loved interacting with his students. Roger loved football�especially MOJO football and ran the time clock at Ratliff Stadium for a number of years. He was active in the Lions Club in Mineral Wells, Houston and the Grandview and Downtown Lions Clubs in Odessa. He received his 50-year pin in 2016. He is survived by his spouse Carla Jean Bryant of Odessa, TX; three children, William "Steven" Bryant (Kristie), Susan Bryan Snure (Todd), and Sharon Bryant Rose (Mike); eight grandchildren, Sarah Neal, Clair Neal, Jonathan Neal, Helen Snure, Eva Snure, Mariann Snure, Cordelia Ann Bryant, and William Parker Bryant; sister, Joyce Davies, and his Sister In Law, Maria Bryant, nephew Randy Davies, niece Kenna O'Connor (Pat), niece Christina Bryant, nephew Kevin Bryant, and nephew Tommy Bryant. He is preceded in death by his parents, Geneva C. and James T. Bryant; brother, James Leslie Bryant and brother in law, Carlton Davies. The family would like to thank Dr. Darrell Parsons, Dr. Joseph Abijay, the staff at Mission Center Adult Day Services and the nurses and aids at MCH, Buena Vida and Home Hospice for their care and concern. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, the Texas Lions Camp, First Baptist Church, Permian Basin Mission Center or the charity of your choice. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, November 15, 2021, 5:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Odessa Arrangements are entrusted to American Heritage Cemetery Funeral Home Crematory.

Tributes

William Roger Bryant

August 20, 1936 - November 12, 2021