After a short illness, and a long 87-year run, Everett Roger Teague passed away peacefully on December 17th, 2016. This concluded a triumphant and happy life at the fulcrum of the American Dream. Roger was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on August 5, 1929, less than three months before Black Tuesday. He was the last of ten children born to Laura Jane Teague and Grover Cleveland Teague.
Roger was a gifted and serious student in Mathematics and Physics. After high school, Roger worked forty hours per week at the local A & P, sacking groceries to pay his way through Union University where he earned his undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Physics. He then received a Teaching Fellowship at Auburn University (a great source of pride) where Roger earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics.
While working for NASA for thirty-eight years, Roger’s work on flight trajectories helped men orbit the Earth and land on the moon. His commitment to, and deep and abiding love of science and physics was matched by his faith in God and his ability to be a rock for his family. Roger did not enjoy bragging about his work at NASA, but would talk of the joy of working for Wernher von Braun as a deflection from his own accomplishments.
His children and grandchildren grew up intellectually nurtured and challenged always to push themselves further and to be more excellent at whatever they were doing. His children, Mark and Sandra, were raised in love and, sometimes to their chagrin, had a parental chaperone eager for every band trip and swim team trip. Most important, Roger’s good looks, kindness, and commitment to family allowed him to walk his days with his two great loves, Teresa and Sylvia.
His marriage to Teresa lasted until her passing, and his marriage to Sylvia lasted until his. His life exemplified the courage, perseverance, and excellence we all hope to find in ourselves, and his departure was a testament to a life well-spent, focused on family and accomplishment. Even the day before the end, Roger still managed to tell those who visited “I love you” or “I love y’all.”
Roger was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters, his parents, Grover C. Teague and Laura Jane Teague and his son, Mark Alan Teague (Christine Teague). He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Teague Hill (William T. Hill, Jr.), his beloved wife of 30 years Sylvia Teague, her children Sharon Stockman (Larry Stockman) and Terry Hazelrig (Melanie Hazelrig), seven grandchildren, Taylor, Teresa, Everett, Michael, Rachel, Steven, and Christine, nieces, Linda Smith of Corinth, MS, Laura Jane Bledsoe and nephews Tommy Teague and Doug Teague of Jackson, TN, and Bill Stepp of Martin, TN.
Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 3 in the chapel with the Rev. Mark Seanor officiating. Burial will be in Valhalla Memorial Gardens.
