ANDERSON — Local real estate agents are remembering Helen Rogers as a woman who exemplified the best of their field.

Rogers, who died July 14 at the age of 93, sold Madison County real estate for more than 50 years and worked up until the last 18 months of her life.

“Helen was the type of person who took care of everybody,” said Tom Swan, an associate broker in Rogers’ Meridian Street office for 13 years. Rogers closed the office in early 2007 because of her growing health problems.

“She made a lot of money in the real estate business, but she was very free with it,” Swan said.

He recalled one time when Rogers signed over her commission check to the family who had just purchased the home so that they could more easily afford it.

Rogers was born in Sullivan County but lived in Anderson for most of her life. She was a regular customer at Frisch’s Big Boy, sometimes eating there three meals a day, Swan said.

Dan Ferree, owner of the Posy Shop flower store in Anderson, met Rogers in 1962 at Realtors school. He chose not to get his license, but continuously referred friends in need of a real estate agent to her office.

“She was a very, very good Realtor,” he said. “She was always dressed to the hilt. There for a while, I didn’t think she could get around too good, but she always wore high heels and was a real snappy dresser.”

Patty Kuhn, executive officer of the Anderson/Madison County Association of Realtors, also remembered Rogers’ flair for fashion and love of high-heeled shoes.

“She had a nice following of clients,” Kuhn said. “She always worked hard for her clients.”

Rogers’ husband, Jasper, died in 1992. The couple had four children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Her great-niece Debbie Barclay of Anderson said that away from work Rogers loved to read and spend time with her family, especially the young ones.

“That’s probably how I’ll remember her,” Barclay said. “Surrounded by children.”