Mr. Clayborne Eugene Roark, better known as Gene, age 91, of Creston passed away Friday night, March 25, 2011 at Watauga Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 2:00pm at Boone Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Charlie McCoy and Rev. Rhonda Rash officiating. Burial will follow in the Lawrence Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00pm on Wednesday, one hour prior to the funeral service. Mr. Roark was born in Ashe County on Sunday, May 11, 1919 to the late Willet and Lucy Rash Roark. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He worked for the US Forestry Service at the beginning of the Christmas Tree Industry. He is survived by his wife, Opal Lawrence Roark, of 64 years of marriage; three sons, Jerry Roark and wife, Debbie, of Hendersonville, NC, Mike Roark and wife, Martha, of Lincolnton, NC and Rex Roark and wife, Shelia, of Creston; a sister, Vada Milam, of West Jefferson; six grandchildren, Kimberly Young, David Roark, Jada Roark, Casey Roark, Jessica Jordan and Ashley Roark; a great grandson, Parker Young; several nieces and nephews also survive. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family, c/o Boone Family Funeral Home, PO Box 786, West Jefferson, NC 28694.