Thomas David Rorie

Thomas David Rorie, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away on April 12, 2018 after a courageous battle against lymphoma. He was born on April 14, 1944 in Wichita, KS to Glen and Nancy Rorie while his father was serving in the Navy during WWII. After the war was over, his father became a Methodist minister in Northwest Louisiana; thus, Tom spent his formative years in various parsonages in small towns. These early life experiences became the foundation of a lifetime of honesty, integrity, and family values.

After graduating from Haynesville High School, he attended Louisiana Tech University graduating cum laude with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Upon graduation he attended law school at Southern Methodist University. While on summer break, he met Carolyn Goode at Broadmoor Methodist Church in Shreveport, LA. They married August 10, 1968 during his final year of law school and would spend the next 50 years together. Upon his graduation they moved to Nacogdoches, where he taught Business Law at SFASU for the next several years.

Tom opened his law practice in 1972 concentrating on Civil Trial and Family Law. He was active in the community and used his profession to help others throughout his career. He was President of the Nacogdoches Jaycees, the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce and the Nacogdoches Bar Association at different times during his career. Tom found tremendous reward in his ability to help children by serving as Attorney ad Litem and dedicating his time to the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Deep East Texas (CASA).

As a nature enthusiast, Tom appreciated being outdoors, where most of his hobbies took place. His early memories involved hunting and fishing with his father and brothers. As a young professional in the 1970’s, he found camaraderie with other members of the community in riding dirt bikes. He had a deep love of racing homing pigeons, a hobby which he spent much of his life doing. He once served as the National Legal Advisor for the American Racing Pigeon Union. Tom was also a talented woodworker; he designed and helped construct his own home as well as built furniture and turned wooden bowls. Target shooting was an interest he enjoyed in his later years. Tom was an especially avid American historian having had a deep appreciation for our past. At the time of his death, he was writing a memoir about his early life growing up in Mooringsport and had a lifelong fondness for Caddo Lake. Tom’s wishes were that his ashes be spread at Caddo Lake.

He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; children Elizabeth Rorie DeBoe (Douglas), John Rorie; and grandchildren Gabriel and Gillian Patterson. He is also survived by his two brothers Kenneth (Floy) and Douglas (Jeri) Rorie, sister-in-law Kim Adams (Richard), Paula Rorie and daughter Autumn, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2018, at First United Methodist Church in Nacogdoches officiated by Dr. Jeff McDonald.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2018, at Cason Monk-Metcalf's Sunset Chapel in Nacogdoches

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to CASA of Deep East Texas.

Please visit www.CasonMonk-Metcalf.com to leave your online condolences and memories.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches.