Roger Glenn Crook

January 26, 1943 - December 17, 2020

Posted

“Roger Glenn Crook was born Jan. 26, 1943, in Longview, Washington. He was the son of Miriam Russell Dick Crook and Cloyde Carson Crook. He was the younger brother of Clayton Dick Crook. A son, a student, a musician, a soldier, a husband of 53 years to Mary Whitney Warner Crook, a teacher, a colleague, a coach, the father of Austin Charles Crook and Amy Noel Crook Maxim, and Opa of Brynn Ainsley Maxim, Emlyn Keira Maxim, and Sullivan Glenn Crook, Mr. Crook was a good citizen to his community, a friend to many, and he played French horn for 67 years with many, many fine local musicians. And, like playing music, now and then in life he sometimes got it right. Mr. Crook was a good man.”

Roger is speaking in his own voice in the paragraph above. His family would like to add some words, too. Beloved by his family and friends, he is survived by his wife Mary; his son Austin (Courtney) of Camas, Washington; his daughter Amy (Evan) of Redmond, Washington; his three grandchildren; his brother Clay (Karen) of Moses Lake; his nieces Kelly Crook of Moses Lake; and Cindy (Robert) Manderfield and grandniece Charity of San Diego, California; his cousin Tom (Linda) Thompson of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; his cousin Beverly Dick of Oro Valley, Arizona; and her daughter Lisa Dick (John Hulteen) and grandsons Jacob and Alex of Afton, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Kristin Warner of Sequim and Jessica (Bill) Schilling of Kauai; and her daughter Lauren (Linc) Lippincott and grandson Graham of Kirkland.

He taught fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in the Sequim School District from 1978 until his retirement in 2004. He started the Sequim Middle School cross-country team, coached track and field, and coached the middle school knowledge bowl team (attracting participants by popping corn and letting the irresistible odor waft down the school halls). He played French horn with the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra, with the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra, and at many Christmas concerts put on by the Sequim Community Church, among others. He had the loveliest sound.

He died of esophageal cancer on Dec. 17, 2020, choosing to end his life under our state’s Death with Dignity law. His journey is at caringbridge.org/visit/rogercrook. He left his life with the same class with which he had lived it. We will miss him all the rest of our lives, but count it a blessing that we had him for all of his.

Gifts in his memory can be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.

The family will scatter his ashes some time this summer.