John Roark

John Roark, 76, of Essie, KY was born on May 28, 1948, in Laurel County, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 16, 2024, at the Greg & Noreen Wells Hospice Care Center in Hazard, Kentucky. 

By occupation, John was a coal miner, retiring from his long tenure at Shamrock Coal Company.

Throughout his life, John was known for his great sense of humor. He loved to make people laugh often entertained family and friends with his playful jokes. His ability to bring joy to those around him was one of his most cherished qualities. John was also an avid hunter, especially deer hunting. In addition to hunting, he enjoyed fishing, riding his four-wheeler, and traveling, especially to the beach.

Preceding him in death are his biological parents Charlie Roark and Sillar Shepherd Roark, his parents who loved him and raised him as their own, Alex and Dorothy Barrett, his loving & devoted wife Molly Collett Roark, his brothers Charles, Raymond, Kenneth, and Hubert, a half-brother Bernerd Collett.  Also preceding him in death are his sisters Ruby, Blanche Collett, Laura Belle Collett, and Elizabeth Mitchell. 

He is survived by his beloved son, Johnny Brian Roark and daughter-in-law Donna of Big Creek, Kentucky. He leaves behind two brothers, Ronnie Roark of East Bernstadt, Kentucky, and Ulysses Barrett (Joan) of Essie, Kentucky; along with two sisters, Geneva Bowling (Phillip) of Paducah, Kentucky, and Tammy Reid (Carl) of London, Kentucky. John's family also includes four cherished grandchildren: Kara Sasser (Josh), Johnny Roark (Courtney Taylor), Charlie Samuel Roark, and Kimberly Dison (Michael). He was a proud great-grandfather to Eli Johnny Bentley Roark, Greyson Sturgill and Harper Mollie Dison. A host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends are left to honor his memory.

Funeral services honoring John's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 20, 2024 at Wolfe & Sons Funeral Home.

Interment will follow in the Collett Cemetery at Essie, KY with Johnny Roark, David Collett, Chad Fultz, Dean Collett, Kenny Smith and Jamie Collett serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Thursday evening at the funeral home chapel.

Arrangements are being handled carefully under the direction of Wolfe & Sons Funeral Home