Eleanor Frances Frye Rogers

Eleanor Frances Frye Rogers, 97, of Concord, North Carolina, formerly of Maryville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Grandview Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee. Pastor Leslie Ragland of Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the cemetery chapel.

Eleanor was born on September 20, 1928, in Maryville, Tennessee, to the late Ruby McCollum Frye and Alvin Ross Frye. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, William “Fred” Rogers, in 2013; her brother, Alvin Glenn Frye; and her sister, Sarah Nelle Valentine.

A proud graduate of Everett High School in Maryville, Class of 1946, Eleanor began her career at Blount Memorial Hospital, where she managed patient records, billing, and administrative responsibilities. After the birth of her children, she devoted herself fully to her family as a homemaker. Later, when her children were older, she returned to the workforce at the Bank of Maryville, serving first in the downtown office and then at the West Branch near her home on Chilhowee Avenue. Eleanor valued her time at the bank, where she built lasting friendships with colleagues and customers alike.

Following retirement, Eleanor and Fred fulfilled a dream by building a cabin along the Little River in Townsend, Tennessee. There, they created a lifetime of cherished memories with friends and family. Eleanor fondly recalled card games and fellowship with close friends, as well as treasured outings with her “thrifting” companion, Nancy. Summers with the grandchildren at the cabin always included homemade biscuits for breakfast, fishing, tubing, wading in the river, trips to Dollywood, and dealing with the occasional poison ivy outbreak.

In 1990, Eleanor and Fred moved to Concord, North Carolina, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Even so, their hearts remained in the Smoky Mountains, and they returned often to Townsend, especially during the summer months. Eleanor proudly considered herself a “Tennessee girl,” deeply rooted in the beauty and traditions of East Tennessee. The years spent at the cabin remained among the happiest of her life and held a special place in her heart.

Eleanor’s life was grounded in faith, family, and an appreciation for life’s simple joys. She shared a lasting connection with Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church in Townsend and later worshiped at Center Methodist Church in Concord. She had a lifelong love of flowers and gardening, especially the wildflowers she tended at the family cabin. In her later years, she found joy in hearing about the blooms and viewing photos of the flowers she had once lovingly cared for.

She also held a deep appreciation for antiques, a passion rooted in her upbringing. Eleanor had remarkable knowledge of antiques and delighted in discovering unique treasures. She could often be found browsing local shops such as The Goodwill Store, White Owl Antique Mall, and the CVAN Store, always in search of something special.

Eleanor will be remembered for her gentle spirit, warm smile, and quick sense of humor. She treasured storytelling and often shared fond and humorous memories of her family, including tales of her grandfather, Dr. J.A. McCollum, making house calls on horseback, and lively family moments from her childhood in Maryville. Her stories, along with her love of family, flowers, and treasured keepsakes, will remain a lasting legacy.

Above all, Eleanor was devoted to her family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend who found great joy in the lives of those she loved.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Rogers White and husband, Steve; her son, William “Bill” F. Rogers Jr. and wife, Nanda; her grandchildren, Seth Rogers and wife, Jennifer, Hannah Efird and husband, Brian, Sarah White, Sam White and wife, Erin, and Rachel Rhodes and fiancé, Ed Diaz; her great-grandchildren, Erica Efird, Lily Efird, Benjamin Rogers, Grayson White, and Peyton White; and her brother, John Frye and wife, Sandy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church, 7322 Old Tuckaleechee Road, Townsend, TN 37882.

Eleanor’s life was a beautiful reflection of love, faith, and simple joys—treasured always by those who knew her.