Kera Toline Rogers

Kera Toline Rogers, 91, of Charleston, SC died June 30, 2021.

The daughter of Vera Paul Federoff, of Ryazan, Russia, and Bertrand James Laney, of New York City, Kera was born in Hankow, China, on April 30, 1930. She had one sibling, Christina Laney, now deceased. Kera and her family fled China in 1940, shortly after the Japanese offensive.

After leaving China, Kera traveled the world with her family, attending schools in Panama, El Salvador, several US states, and finally, at the University of Texas where she met John A. Toline who became her husband. After living in California and Mississippi where John served in the US Navy, they moved to Moline, IL where they raised four children.

An avid gardener, Kera served as President of the Tri-City Garden Club and maintained spectacular gardens in both Moline and Charleston. Kera was a gifted artist and not only created beautiful quilts but was an excellent weaver. She played piano and guitar, was a gourmet cook and had a large group of friends with whom she would share her talents.

She supported The Humane Society, Tri-City Garden Club, The Weavers Guild, Kings Daughters, Dining for Women, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and other entities devoted to increasing awareness and support for nature and those in need.

Despite all her creative and supportive efforts, she raised four active children, and provided a loving and giving home. She spent countless hours sharing her extensive knowledge and teaching her children to play guitar or piano and walking with them in the local woods to explore the flora and fauna. Her love of music and nature lives on in her children. She oversaw a house full of pets with great humor. Her sense of fun was infectious and her stories of her vast life experiences were enjoyed by all. Her continuous support and love to friends and family will carry on through all those that knew her.

Following the death of John A. Toline, Kera married Tom Rogers with whom she traveled across the US when not spending time on Lake Michigan. When Tom died, Kera moved to Charleston, SC to be closer to family and enjoy the history, music, and coastal beauty of the area.

She will be profoundly missed by those that knew and loved her, but she is leaving behind a legacy of memories for her children and friends. Kera is survived by her daughter Catherine Anna Toline, husband Leo Lentsch; sons Mark Anderson Toline, wife Ann, and Paul Alexander Toline; grandsons North Toline and John Toline and step-grandchildren Marta Merryweather and Hanna Baerveldt. Kera's eldest son Colin passed away in 2020 and is survived by his wife Carol Anthony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road, North Charleston, SC 29406, https://charlestonanimalsociety.org/.

Kera's ashes will be interred at the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois with John A. Toline and a few will go into the Atlantic to be with her son Colin who is also dearly missed.

A memorial service will be held at First Scot's Presbyterian Church, 53 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina, at 11:00 AM, Thursday, July 15, 2021. A short reception at the church will follow. For those that cannot attend in person, live streaming of the service will be available on the First Scot's Presbyterian Church website on the "Live Streaming" site: https://www.first-scots.org/