Kelly Lee Jurgensen

Kelly Jurgensen passed away peacefully at her home on April 9, 2025, at the age of 70. Born in Cherry Point, NC, she was the daughter of the late Lt. Col. Franklin Rogers and Marty Rogers.

Daughter of a Marine Corps aviator, Kelly grew up as the oldest of four children in a military family. As a child, she lived in North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Japan, and her many interests included horseback riding, swimming and surfing.

After completing high school, Kelly attended college in Hawaii but her true desire was to become a writer. She produced a successful children’s publication in Waimea, Hawaii, and published a collection of short stories (The Losing of These Things).

Kelly met the love of her life, Dick Jurgensen, in Waimea, Hawaii. They married in November of 1983 and together they raised Kelly’s son, Frankie, who has cerebral palsy. They eventually left Hawaii to make their home in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Kelly was a devoted mother to her special needs son, advocating strongly for his rights not just to be included but to be valued in the public school system. Kelly also completed the Honolulu Marathon while pushing her son in his stroller for the entire 26 miles.

Kelly also created many businesses for herself, especially as a horse trainer in Hawaii and Oregon. She also wrote a grant for and held a horseback riding therapy clinic for disabled children and adults. Kelly’s love for animals extended to the many dogs she owned over the years, including her “boys” Pony and Raylan, who she painfully had to find a new home for toward the end of her illness.

In recent years, Kelly resumed her love of surfing. She found her true sense of community with the local surfers in Seaside and Cannon Beach, Oregon. Those friends provided much comfort, love and support to her during her battle with cancer.

Kelly is survived by her son, Frank Gassmann Jurgensen of Oregon, stepdaughter Zoe Sing (Rick) of Hawaii, her brother Dan Rogers (Flo) of California, and sisters Amy Bruns (Rob) of Florida, and Wendy Rogers of Arizona.

In addition to her parents, Kelly was preceded in death by her husband Dick Jurgensen.

A celebration of Kelly’s life will be held at a later date.