John T. "Jack" Rorex

JOHN T. "JACK" ROREX, 85, died peacefully in his home on December 23, 2016. Born in Maryville, Tenn., on July 10, 1931, he spent most of his childhood in the coal mining country of Harlan County, Ky. He attended school in the mining camps of Bardo, Kentucky and Stiemen, Va., 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, Ark. 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, Ark. Later, Jack moved to Fox, Ark. where he became Administrator of The Meadowcreek Project, an Environmental Education Center. In 1992, Jack became the manager of Heifer International Ranch in Perryville, Ark. 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 on Wednesday, December 28 from 5-7 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 29 at Trinity Presbyterian, 4501 Rahling Road at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jack's honor to Pulaski County Humane Society, The Stewpot at First Presbyterian Church, 800 Scott St. 72201, or Trinity Presbyterian Church. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Jack's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.