To Sheila Diana Roark, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Sheila, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Sheila really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.
Born at Kings Mountain Hospital in Kings Mountain, NC, her parents were Eugene and Doris Martin. Even as a child, Sheila had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. As the daughter of a pastor, Shelia’s family relocated as necessary. She was raised in Kings Mountain, Georgia, Tennessee, South Georgia, Rutherfordton, NC and Hickory, NC.
Always a good playmate, Sheila was easygoing and fun loving. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Sheila managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Sheila was raised with nine. She had Wanda, Randy, Debra, Pam, Tony, Daniel, Tracy, Billy Paul, and Lemuel.
All of Sheila's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Sheila experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She loved to run and play horseshoes. Sheila's memorable achievements included being a proficient runner.
Sheila simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Sheila attended Hickory High School and completed 11th grade. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was English.
Sheila never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. This quality allowed Sheila to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Sheila utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Cordilla and Hobert, Vivian, Helen, Kenneth, Randall. Later in life, she became friends with Diane Massagee, Bessie Waters, Martha Rodatz. Sheila loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.
The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Sheila very easy to approach. On December 9, 1972 Sheila exchanged wedding vows with William Henry Roark Jr. at New Testament Church of Hickory, NC. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.
Perhaps the reason Sheila related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Sheila was blessed with Three Sons, Timothy, Joshua, Wesley. They were also blessed with Ten Grandchildren and Three Great-Granddaughters, Victoria, Shiann, Isaiah, Jacob, Kaitlyn, Toby, Nathan, Landon, Ryan, Skylar. Sheila had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Sheila's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Sheila had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.
At work, as in life, Sheila was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Sheila was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Sheila's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Sheila as an excellent problem solver. She was employed by BSN Jobst for 28 years as a knitter.
Sheila enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Photography was one of her favorite hobbies that she shared with others.
Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Sheila recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of New Testament Church for 66 years. During that time, she played the organ and sang duets with Billy.
It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. Favorite vacations included trips to Montana, the beach, the mountains and New York City.
Sheila was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Sheila's favorites was Trixie, a Toy Poodle. They were best friends for 14 years.
Sheila passed away on June 22, 2020 at at her home in the arms of her husband, Billy. She is survived by her husband, Billy; three sons, Timothy, Joshua, Wesley; thirteen grandchildren; nine brothers and sisters. Services were held at Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home and Brookford Cemetery. Sheila was laid to rest in Brookford Cemetery, Hickory, NC.
Sheila brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Sheila Diana Roark lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.
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