July 30, 1925 - July 6, 2012

VENICE, Fla. — Helen Rogers Holloway, 86, of Venice, died Friday, July 6, 2012.

She was born July 30, 1925, to William Alexander and Mary Francis (Watson) Rogers and sister to William Alexander Rogers Jr. and Forbes Watson Rogers in Boston. While attending Mount Holyoke College, she met Roland Frank Beers Jr., whom she married in 1945.

She later attended University of Rochester in New York and graduated from Southern Methodist University, in Dallas in 1948. This was no small feat for a young woman in the 1940s, since she also gave birth to her first son in 1946 and her second in 1948.

She was an avid horsewoman and a member of the equestrian team at Mt. Holyoke.

Helen lived in Baltimore from 1958 to 1972), Elkhart, Ind., from 1973 to 1985), Williamsburg, Va., from 1986 to 2006 and Venice.

She was a strong supporter of the performing and visual arts. She volunteered at the Baltimore Museum of Art and served as a docent at Midwest Museum of American Art, Elkhart, and Muscarelle Museum of Art at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg.

She believed strongly in women’s rights and served as a Planned Parenthood volunteer for many years. Throughout her life, Helen loved her friends and made many wherever she lived.

An avid birder, she also loved good food, good wine and good books. She especially loved her little dogs.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; brothers William Alexander Rogers Jr. and Forbes Watson Rogers; and her first husband, Roland Frank Beers Jr. in 1985.

Helen is survived by her four children, James Wheelock (Carol) Beers of Williamsburg, William Rogers (Joann) Beers of Lodi Wis., Helen Elizabeth Beers Organt of Venice and John Roland (Nermin) Beers of Sarasota; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Floyd Holloway Jr. of Venice, whom she married in 1990; and her two stepsons, Charles (Ann) Holloway and Frank Holloway.

A memorial service is scheduled for later this summer in Venice.

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