Roger was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Chester L. and Daisy Dale (Hewett) Hewitt. He had two older brothers that preceded him in death, Chester, Jr. and Joseph Ivan Hewitt. He also has a younger sister, Sally Parcels, living in New Hampshire and a younger brother, Dennis Hewitt, who lives in Gladstone, Oregon.
He leaves behind his wife of nearly 54 years, Shirley Hewitt, his son, Gary Hewitt, and his daughter, Debbie McCoy. His oldest son, Clayton Hewitt Connolly, preceded him in death. He is also survived by five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two great-great grandsons, and many nieces and nephews.
Roger was raised in the Seventh-Day Adventist church and spent his early school years attending Seventh-Day Adventist schools. His family moved to Bremerton, Washington as World War II began, where his father worked in the shipyards. Later, the family purchased a farm just east of Oregon City. He graduated from public high school during this time.
His careers included working as an egg route deliveryman, a sales/deliveryman for Bradley Pies, a real estate broker and developer, a finish carpenter, a home builder, dietary supplement sales and he retired as a vending machine business owner.
Roger had a home built in Milwaukie in 1964, where he resided the rest of his life. He met Shirley Ann Roper in January 1964 and they married in August of that year. He was very active all his life and indulged his grandchildren, taking them on vacations to Disneyland, the beach, and many countless other activities. He was absolutely in love with babies and found great joy in holding and talking to each newborn child.
He had a 25-foot Chris-Craft cabin cruiser and spent many days fishing and boating on the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean. He also enjoyed hunting and family camping trips. He loved traveling with Shirley to many places including Europe, Taiwan, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Niagara Falls and other places within the States.
In 1976, Roger came into the Lord’s recovery and would later help establish the church in Portland, where he labored tirelessly, faithfully serving Christ for the building up of His Body. Over the years, he and Shirley opened their home for meetings and hospitality. Roger worked on several remodels of Sellwood meeting hall and also on the construction of Johnson hall. He simply loved Christ and the church and consecrated his life absolutely for the church life. He enjoyed preparing breakfast for the brothers, door-knocking and speaking the gospel of Christ to others, and spending time with the young people. He especially enjoyed the church love feasts and picnics, and was given to shepherding and cherishing many PSU foreign exchange students. Roger faithfully served with the brothers in Portland, and he took every opportunity to always blend with the other churches.
Our dear brother Roger Hewitt was an excellent pattern in so many ways: in his seeking and loving the Lord Jesus, in faith, in love, in truth, in diligence, in prayer, in the Word and ministry, and in his living a selfless life of shepherding and serving others. He dearly loved his wife Shirley, his family, the saints, and most of all his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.