Henry "Sonny" Harlan Roark, Jr., age 75, of Hillsboro, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024, at U. K. Medical Center in Lexington.

He was born July 24, 1948, at Hayswood Hospital in Maysville, Kentucky, and was a son of the late Henry "Punk" Harlan Roark, Sr. and Olive L. Cooper Roark. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Nicky Dean Roark on January 28, 2007.

Sonny is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jane Leigh (King) Roark, whom he married November 21, 1971, at Morehead United Methodist Church in Morehead; two sons, Henry "Hank" Harlan Roark III and wife Stephanie Lynn of North Bend, Washington, and their children, Brandon, Tristan, and Emma and Hunter Hugh Roark and wife Caitlin Crodian of Charleston, South Carolina, and their daughter Reagan.

Other survivors include brothers and sisters-in-law, Gilbert King and fiancée Pam of Mt. Sterling, John and Kat King of Morehead, and Mitch and Kellie King of Livingston, Tennessee; nieces and nephews, Laura and Canon Vice, Gibby and Ashley King, Sara and Josi Garcia, Nicky Dean and Tracie Roark, Brittany and Patrick Anderson, Boone King, and Ashton and Colton Estes; and other extended family and many friends.

Sonny graduated from University of Kentucky with a Civil Engineering degree in 1971. He retired    after 35 years for the Kentucky Department of Transportation from 1968 to 2003 at Flemingsburg District 9 Office as branch manager for the division of maintenance.

During Sonny's working years he loved to attend Hank's academic team competitions and Hunter's basketball games. Both sons helped him surveying jobs throughout the county. He enjoyed and managed time to help his wife with her love of horses.

Sonny loved to hunt coon dogs. Throughout his life he did competition and pleasure hunting, winning one world championship at Autumn Oaks in 1986 with his dog Ty. He spent many hours fishing on his beloved Locust Creek, where he would say it was God's Green Acres. After retirement he continued to coon hunt and squirrel hunt with his dogs Red and Tank.

He has built two homes, three barns and two dog kennels.  Sonny enjoyed traveling with Jane to Ohio Amish Country and with friends to multiple hunts, and was an avid U.K. basketball fan. In his last days his friend Gary and Willie were by his side, giving him support and rededicating himself to God.

Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals with Brother Willie Skaggs officiating. Burial will follow in Hillsboro Cemetery. Sonny wished, for those that can, to use their pick-up trucks for the funeral procession.

Pallbearers:  Gary Jolly, Tunk Hodges, Dean Goldy, Derwin Howard, Gibby King, and Canon Vice.

Honorary pallbearers and close friends:  Gary and Katie Jolly, Tommy Phillips, Tunk Hodges, Billy Smith, Roger Utterback, Sandy Toy, Ray Trent, Donnie Cooper, and Duane Grayson.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2024, at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY  40351.

View memorial tribute or sign guestbook at www.northcuttandson.com