Carolyn Kay Orr

Carolyn Kay Orr, was born September 21, 1937 in Dakota City, NE and died February 10, 2021 at Omaha Methodist Hospital from COVID-19 complications at the age of 83. She taught at Omaha Central High School for 34 years. Carolyn was described as a “teacher's teacher.” She was always willing to help her students and colleagues, and she organized the first Annual Teachers Luncheon at Central. She was also instrumental in forming the Central High School Alumni Association in 1996. Carolyn grew up on her beloved family’s farm outside Dakota City, Nebraska and graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1955. She then received an undergraduate degree in Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she was Phi Beta Kappa in 1959. Carolyn began her teaching career in Beatrice, NE from 1959 to 1961. She then went back to UNL and got a Masters in Education in 1962. Carolyn moved to Omaha where she taught accounting and typing until her retirement in 1996. Carolyn enjoyed music, played piano, golfed, traveled as a member of the Friendship Force, and loved her many dear friends and neighbors. In retirement, Carolyn became a favorite client of many of her former students who became professionals in law, medicine, and other business professions, which brought her great personal satisfaction from seeing their success. Carolyn was preceded in death by her father John “Jack” G. Orr (1955), her mother Charlotte Mable Orr (nee Sides) (2010), her older sister Mrs. Jackie C. (Jack) Johanson (2020), and her younger sister Mrs. M. Sharon (Russell) Huffman (2012). She was also preceded in death by her longtime companion, Mr. Jerry Gillogly, and her “best friend” Gus the dog. Carolyn is survived by five nieces and one nephew. Following a memorial service on

May 20, 2021 at the John A Gentleman Mortuary on Pacific Street at 7:00 p.m., Carolyn’s ashes will be interred in the Dakota City, NE Cemetery on May 21, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.