Roger M. Houston, 75, of Jacksonville, IL, passed away Friday, September 9, 2022, at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. Born November 30, 1946, in Jacksonville to the late Robert W. and Roberta Moss Houston, Roger married Karen Maxvill on July 6, 1969, at the former Ebenezer United Methodist Church, north of Jacksonville. Karen preceded him in death on December 3, 2019. He is survived by his son, Gregory E. Houston (William Stanger) of Michigan City, IN; two sisters, Connie Coker (Ron "Pete" Hawley) of Franklin, NC and Sherrie Meyer of Fort Collins, CO; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Tonya Houston, and a brother-in-law, Don Meyer. Roger was raised on the multi-generational family farm northwest of Jacksonville. He graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1964 and attended Western Illinois University until he was drafted into the US Army. Roger served in Vietnam from 1966-1968 as a door gunner on a Huey helicopter. He returned home to continue his pursuit of a bachelors degree at SIU-Carbondale, receiving a BS in Agriculture in 1971. Newly married, Roger and Karen moved to Colorado for his work in a pork production facility and later as manager of a fertilizer plant. They returned as a family of four to Jacksonville in 1978 to begin his long career as a grain and livestock farmer, responsible for management of the family farm until retiring in 2009. In recognition of his life-long leadership in agriculture, Roger was inducted into the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2001. A community volunteer, Roger was proud to serve as President of the Illinois Beef Association, while holding membership in the National Cattlemens Association and Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau. He served as president of the Ebenezer Cemetery Association for several decades. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and its New Building Committee and Trustees. He also formerly served on the board of directors and farm committee for Passavant Hospital, the Jacksonville Airport Authority, the Morgan County Fair board of directors, and Chapin Lions Club. As a veteran, Roger was faithful to help the Combined Veterans Ceremonial Team present funeral honors across West Central Illinois and enjoyed visiting with his brothers in arms at the annual US Army Special Operations reunions. In his spare time, Roger enjoyed golf with friends at Ks Creek where keeping score was rather unimportant. He also loved to hunt, especially deer in Illinois and bear in Canada. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville, where military honors will be conferred to close the service. An informal visitation will be held from 10:00 am Tuesday until the time of the service. A private family burial in Ebenezer Cemetery will be held at a later date. Memorial gifts are suggested to Ebenezer Cemetery, Alzheimers Association, or Centenary United Methodist Church. Condolences may be sent online to buchanancody.com. Visitation Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel Tuesday, September 13, 2022 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 1100 Lincoln Ave. Jacksonville, Illinois 62650 Funeral Service Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel Tuesday, September 13, 2022 12:00 PM 1100 Lincoln Ave. Jacksonville, Illinois 62650