Ruby Roark

Roark, Ruby Diane, age 68 of Flint, Michigan, best known as Diane Merrill Roark was born on November 9th 1953 in Hamilton Ohio. She died peacefully on October 17th 2022 at The Hospice House of Shiawassee County. The family thanks Jan, Caryn and other staff there, as well as the nurses at McLaren Hospital in Flint. In death she is reunited with her eldest son Christopher Roark and cousin Sue Roark. Also preceding her in death, mother Barbara Brock; father John Merrill; stepfathers Tony Affrunti and Clyde Brown; sister Darlene Vojinov and sister-in-law Kim Merrill. She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 51 years, Leonard C. Roark; their children Joshua Roark and Amanda Roark (Dennis Rizzo); many chosen children, including Kymm (Crosby) Clark, Amy Schafer, Katie (Will) Luongo, Lori Blasdell, Erin Thibodeau, Rachael (Nicole) Frawley-Panyard and Teneya Parrish; many grandchildren including Ariana, Sloane, Lily, Maeleigh, Ezri, Ski, Lilyana, Hazel, Dash, Liam, Jackson, Greyson, Hector and Wren; great-granddaughter Alanah; siblings Helen (Bill) Conner, Dawn Affrunti, Edward (Trish) Merrill, Charles Merrill, John Merrill and sister-in-law Karen Merrill; and many other family and friends. Lennie and Diane raised their family in Flint Michigan. Diane received an Associate's of Science from Mott College and Bachelor's of History and Anthropology from U of M, she was involved in Phi Theta Kappa. She taught Lamaze for 16 years and was active with the Flint Jewish Federation. She enjoyed playing Mahjong and Bunco; reading mysteries; watching Judge Judy, Law & Order and Charlie Chan movies; having family get-togethers and sending her kids to the store after midnight for corn on the cob and pineapple and other seemingly random combinations , or Coke Slurpees and gummy bears at any hour of the day or night. She loved writing, mostly family histories and personal handwritten letters to family and friends. She told the best stories about life, religion, history, you name it, she had a wealth of knowledge. She was feisty, sweet with a kick of sour and whip smart. Whatever sass or sordid jokes her kids dished out, she could serve back with twice the wickedness. Cremation will take place at Sharp Funeral Home in Swartz Creek with a memorial service for close family to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations made to the family are appreciated.