Roger Kent Chance

Roger K. Chance, 1930-2015

Roger Kent Chance was born March 31, 1930, in Smith Center, KS, to Leo and Vera (Overmiller) Chance. He passed away peacefully at his Yuma home on November 9, 2015. He was 85.

Young Roger attended schools in Smith Center, Phillipsburg and Colby, Kansas, where his parents operated weekly newspapers.

His maternal grandparents, Chester and Edith Overmiller, were a constant influence for good, nuturing his faith and integrity. He spent time on their farm near Thornburg, KS, and attended their country church. He recalled many favorite hymns and scriptures, word for word, including the 23rd Psalm.

His parents were on the way moving the family west in 1944 when they stopped in Yuma, and ended up purchasing The Yuma Pioneer from T.H. Woodbury. The Pioneer was owned and operated by the Chance family for more than 59 years, with Roger involved one way or another in its operation nearly the whole time.

Roger enrolled in Yuma Union High School, where he proclaimed his preference for sports over academics. He participated in basketball, football (running back), and track (pole vault, hurdles). He learned to write and type, skills which served him well for his career.

More importantly, while in high school Roger met the new girl in town; a cheerleader named Margie Doron, who became the love of his life.

Upon graduating from Yuma High School in 1948, Roger moved to Greeley and attended Colorado State Teacher's College (now the University of Northern Colorado), where he was a successful member of the gymnastics team, competing in the flying rings. He continued his love for the flying rings into his adult life, installing a set outside the family home in Yuma. His children later recalled his frightful falls from the rings. He nonchalantly explained “Everyone falls. You just have to know how to land.”

After 1-1/2 years at college, Roger returned to Yuma to be near Margie and work for his father at the Pioneer. Here he learned all aspects of newspaper publishing. His father, a “top notch” setter of linotype, allowed Roger to be his own boss “for the most part.”

On April 14, 1950, Roger and Margie were united in marriage at Yuma's First Presbyterian Church. They remained lifelong members. Two children were born to this union, Pamela Kay and Richard (Rik) Kent. The couple marked their 65th anniversary in April.

Roger and Margie moved into their new home in 1955, which was built by Margie's father, Bruce Doron, in a newly-developing neighborhood on E. Beatty Ave. They have lived in that home ever since.

As editor of The Yuma Pioneer, Roger kept a neutral stance when reporting news. However, he also wrote a weekly opinion column called “From Where I Sit” for many years. He offered his opinion in matters he hoped would stir leadership and benefit the community he so dearly loved and defended. He used his words for decades to influence the community, and was passionate about his beliefs. He sometimes wrote essays which demonstrated his caring and sensitive nature, which he did not readily share with the public.

Roger had many interests outside of the newspaper, and served the community in many ways. He was a Boy Scout leader for a time, taking the Scouts on camping and skiing trips. He loved to fish. His desire to share that with youth prompted him to be deeply involved in the construction of the “Fishing For Fun” project at the east end of town, a fishing lake now known as Pioneer Lake. It remains a popular family fishing spot.

An avid golfer, he was among many community leaders who spearheaded the creation of the High Plains Recreation District and the current nine-hold golf course.

He was a member of the Yuma Volunteer Fire Department for 21 years, an important service that took immediate precedence over publishing deadlines. His son Rik joined the department in Roger's final year. Roger was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He was a founding member of the Yuma Community Foundation, an important endeavor he cared about deeply as a means to help community-building projects in Yuma.

Roger also loved to fly, purchasing an airplane in the 1970s. Roger, Margie and Rik each earned a pilot license.

His active involvement in the community over several decades eventually led to him being honored as the Citizen of the Year in 2001. Several favorable nomination letters had been submitted on his behalf.

A nearly 60-year run with the Pioneer came to an end on his birthday in 2003, when he officially sold the newspaper to four employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

A long-time goal came to fruition about that time as the Chances purchased a vacation home in Sulphur, Louisiana, near where his brother Rodney and his family lived. That allowed Roger to pursue more fishing. He also did some shrimping, played plenty of golf, made sure to avoid the alligators. Roger and Margie enjoyed hosting family and friends for visits.

Unfortunately, a hurricane severely damaged the home, eventually leading to it being sold. In typical stubborn fashion, Roger did not leave Louisiana before the hurricane, but did move further inland, riding it out at his brother Rodney's home.

Even with the vacation home, Roger always came back to his beloved Yuma as he never intended to live anywhere else full-time.

He was enjoying his retirement when he suffered the first in a series of strokes in October 2008. That led to a seven-year battle against declining health, but also allowed for a tender and caring time with Margie and the rest of the family. He shared many memories with Teresa Roubideaux in order to write his memoirs. “Chance Encounters” was completed in 2014, and a copy is available at the Yuma Public Library, another institution Roger supported through the decades.

Roger was preceded in death by his grandparents and his parents, Leo and Vera Chance, and his parents-in-law, Bruce and Inez Doron, all of Yuma.

He leaves to mourn his passing his beloved wife Margie of Yuma, daughter Pam of Long Island, New York, son Rik  of Yuma, grandson Derik of Long Island, New York, brother Rodney (Colleen) of Sulphur, Louisiana, sister Merrily (Keith) Hartwig of Yuma, cousin and childhood friend John Overmiller of Smith Center, Kansas, and cousin Dick Dedrick of Denver.

A memorial service was held Friday, November 13, at the First Presbyterian Church in Yuma, with interim Pastor Robert Bardeen officiating, with burial at Yuma Cemetery. Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials in Roger's name can be made to the Hospice of the Plains and First Presbyterian Church.

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