Cover photo for John Rorex's Obituary
John Rorex Profile Photo

John Rorex

d. December 23, 2016

John Rorex

John T. "Jack" Rorex, 85, died peacefully in his home on December 23, 2016. Born in Maryville, Tennessee, on July 10, 1931, he spent most of his childhood in the coal mining country of Harlan County, Kentucky. He attended school in the mining camps of Bardo, Kentucky and Stiemen, Virginia, including two years in a one room schoolhouse. Jack received a football scholarship to the University of Tennessee and completed his B.S. Degree, Business Administration from Maryville College and his M. Div. Degree from Austin Seminary. He pastored churches in Paragould, Little Rock, and Texarkana, Arkansas and Midland, Texas. He served as an Army chaplain during the Vietnam War. In 1978, Jack earned his M. S. Degree, Health Care Administration from the University of Cincinnati and was the Executive Director of Delta Hills Health System Agency in Batesville, Arkansas. Later, Jack moved to Fox, Arkansas where he became Administrator of The Meadowcreek Project, an Environmental Education Center.

1n 1992, Jack became the manager of Heifer International Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. Upon retirement, he was honored to be "Chief Dishwasher" of his wife's catering business. He also blessed many lives serving as a Chaplain with Arkansas Hospice.

Jack was preceded by his parents, Clyde and Madge Rorex, and his son, Mark Rorex. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Nancy Leggett Rorex; daughters, Lisa Edmunds and Vivian (Jim) Penick; sons, Clint Allen and Rick (Lucy) Allen. His surviving grandchildren are James (Tiffany) Edmunds, Mark Edmunds, Lucy Shea Allen, Kathryn Allen, Caroline Allen, Ashley Mangan, Niki Mangan, and Allen Mangan. His surviving great grandchildren are Aiden and Faith Edmunds.

No one had a bigger heart than Jack who felt that loving the Lord was through service to others. He will be missed by the many people he touched and all who knew him.

There will be a visitation at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at Trinity Presbyterian, 4501 Rahling Road at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jack's honor to the Humane Society of Pulaski County, 14600 Colonel Glenn, Little Rock, AR 72210; The Stewpot-Little Rock, 800 Scott St., Little Rock, AR 72201; or to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Rd., Little Rock, AR 72212.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Jack's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Visitation

DEC 28. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CST)

Little Rock Funeral Home
8801 Knoedl Ct
Little Rock, AR, 72205

Service

DEC 29. 10:00 AM (CST)

Trinity Presbyterian Church
4501 Rahling Road
Little Rock, AR, 72212
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Rorex, please visit our flower store.
In light of increasing scams, all guestbook entries will now be approved by us. At Smith Family Funeral Homes, safeguarding the privacy and personal memories of your loved ones for family and friends is our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

Guestbook

Visits: 39

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree