<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895419-16-000216.txt : 20161103
<SEC-HEADER>0000895419-16-000216.hdr.sgml : 20161103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161103163731
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895419-16-000216
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CREE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895419
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				561572719
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0627

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9194075300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703-8475

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CREE RESEARCH INC /NC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PLASTINA FRANCO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001247740

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21154
		FILM NUMBER:		161972201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_147820542352373.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895419</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CREE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CREE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247740</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PLASTINA FRANCO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CREE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4600 SILICON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DURHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27703</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Power &amp; RF</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2249</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42439</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposition of shares back to the company to satisfy withholding obligations related to stock awards vesting November 2, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 2050 shares purchased by Mr. Plastina on April 30, 2016 and October 31, 2016 under the Cree, Inc. 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bradley D. Kohn, as agent for Franco Plastina</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>plastina_2013.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY - FRANCO PLASTINA
<TEXT>
<!-- Document created using Workiva -->
<html>
<body>
<pre>
POWER OF ATTORNEY


I, the person whose signature appears below, hereby appoint Bradley D. Kohn, Secretary of Cree, Inc. (the "Company"), Diana S. Allen, Assistant Secretary of the Company and Tamara Cappelson, Stock Plan Manager of the Company, and each of them individually, as my attorneys-in-fact with the power and authority:

* to execute and file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on my behalf, pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder: (1) Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4; and (2) Annual Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 5; and any amendments thereto, with respect to my service as a director and/or officer of the Company and my holdings of and transactions in Company securities of which I may be deemed the beneficial owner;
* to do and perform on my behalf any and all other acts necessary or desirable to complete, execute and timely file such Forms 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and, if necessary, any stock exchange or similar authority, including but not limited to the power to designate any person then serving as a director or officer of the Company to be an additional or substitute attorney-in-fact under this Power of Attorney with the same power and authority as if such person were named herein, and to take any other action in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of or legally required by me, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on my behalf pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the attorney-in-fact may approve in his or her discretion.

The authority granted under this Power of Attorney shall continue in effect for each attorney-in-fact named above until I am no longer required to file reports with respect to my holdings of and transactions in Company securities or unless earlier revoked in a writing signed by me and delivered to such attorney-in-fact.  I acknowledge that neither the attorneys-in-fact nor the Company is assuming any of my responsibilities to comply with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Power of Attorney on the date shown below.


    /s/ Franco Plastina
Signature

    Franco Plastina
Typed or Printed Name

    August 27, 2013
Date Signed


</pre>
</body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
