Lillian Merritt Delk Rorie

LILLIAN MERRITT DELK RORIE passed away on May 18, 2018. She was born on September 18, 1924 to Robert Finley Delk and Clara Etta Merritt Delk. Lillian grew up in Texarkana, Ark. She began her education at Patty Hill School, where she made several lifelong friends. She graduated from Arkansas High School, where she was a drum majorette and a member of the Delta Beta Sigma sorority. She attended Baylor University. She worked for several years in Texarkana at First Federal Savings & Loan and as a secretary. Lillian was an emeritus member of the Junior League of Texarkana, where she served as Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary. In 1954, she married the love of her life, Jean Earley Rorie. They shared over 42 years of happiness, marred only by the untimely death of their daughter, Anne. Together, they supported many local and regional charitable groups. They were particularly devoted to St. James Episcopal Day School. One of the abiding joys of her later life was playing tower bells in the English tradition, known as change bell ringing. She belonged to change ringing "bands" at two churches where she was a faithful member: First Presbyterian Church in Texarkana and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock. In 1997, Lillian moved to Little Rock. She loved living near her grandchildren as they grew up. Lillian also volunteered extensively at the Arkansas Arts Center and as a Master Gardner. Lillian was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Jean Earley Rorie, MD, her daughter, Anne Louise Rorie, and her brother, John Robert Delk. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Rorie Henry, her grandchildren: Elizabeth Henry McKeever (Alison), William Rorie Henry, (Kylie), and Robert Merritt Henry (fiancée, Charlotte Young), and her great grandson, James Ellam McKeever. In lieu of flowers, her family has requested donations in Lillian's memory be directed to Arkansas Children's Hospital and First Presbyterian Church of Texarkana. Funeral services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 310 W 17th St. Little Rock, Arkansas, 72206, at 10 A.M., Tuesday, May 22, 2018 followed by burial at 3:00 P.M., State Line Cemetery, Texarkana, Arkansas. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.