Carmen Ray Rorick

Carmen Ray Rorick went to her heavenly home on January 31, 2021, a few days after her 94 ^th birthday, at Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Beautiful Carmen Ray Speck was born in her paternal grandparent’s home on January 23, 1927, in Offerle, Kansas, to Marion and Leota (Ray) Speck. Her early years were spent in Lewis, Kansas, developing happy memories learning to love to cook with her Grandma Ethel (Gill) Speck, playing with her many cousins and favorite aunt, Iona Ray.  In the early 1930’s, Carmen remembered moving to Stanton County by riding with her cousins in the bed of her Grandpa Richard Speck’s truck, an early Stanton County pioneer.

Carmen attended Johnson schools and graduated from Johnson High School. During WWII, she attend Colorado Women College, where the college would load buses with students to dance with servicemen in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on most Saturday nights.

On September 18, 1946, she married “her handsome husband” Elmer Ray Rorick, also a grandson of early Stanton County pioneers Leander and Sara Ann (Falkingham) Rorick , and Rollin and Minta “Birdie” (Gillespie) Fleming. They made their home three miles east of Johnson, in the old Van Meter house raising their children and farming. While in Johnson, she was a member of The United Methodist Church, of Eastern Star and of Cosmos Club helping develop The Cosmos Club Cookbook .

Carmen loved to cook and bake for her family. She provided many meals to the workers in the field and also by cooking for Johnson High School students in the cafeteria.  Carmen passed her love of cooking to her children and grandchildren. While living in Marion, Illinois, Carmen was a featured cook in the “Williamson County Life Newspaper.” She won many blue ribbons at the Newton County Fair while living in Neosho, Missouri. Her favorites were cinnamon rolls, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and a three layer chocolate cake!

She loved her Kansas home, subscribing to the “Johnson Pioneer” for 60 years to keep up with loved ones and friends. She rarely missed a televised Jayhawker game!

Besides cooking, Carmen worked many years at Oaklawn Race Course at Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the interior money room where only the most dedicated, trustworthy, and intelligent employees worked.

Carmen Ray Speck Rorick leaves behind many loved ones as she joins her husband, Elmer and son, Lanny, in Stanton County Cemetery:

Son, Dr. Jerre ( wife June) Rorick; their children, Shawn (wife Stephanie) Rorick and  children Larissa and Ozzy. Jerilynn (husband Jason) Gossrau and children William and Luke.

Son, Mr. Kevin (wife Susan) Rorick and his daughter Morgan.

Daughter, Mrs. Pamela (husband Dr. Richard) Page; their children, Samuel (wife Lindsay) Page and children Eva Jane and Charles. Kyle (wife Rachel) Page and son John David.

A spring service is planned in Johnson, Kansas.