Roger Ervin Crooks, 83, of Gurley, passed away January 15, 2024. Roger was born October 22, 1940, in Amarillo, TX, to Rufus Ervin Crooks and Susie Joyce (Price) Crooks. He graduated from Memphis (TX) High School in 1959. He then attended the University of Kansas until he transferred to the University of Texas in Austin, where he received a B.A. in 1963 and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, where he attended Navy Supply Corps School and later Navy Exchange School. During his active-duty years, he was stationed in Baltimore, MD, Brooklyn, NY, Beeville, TX, San Miguel, Philippines, and the Naval Photographic Center in Washington, D.C., where he received his honorary discharge in 1972.
After the Navy, Roger attended West Texas State University, where he received an M.Ed. in 1974, and East Texas State University, where he received an Ed.D. in 1977. He then worked as an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In 1981, he began working for the Army’s Ordinance Missile and Munitions Center and School (OMMCS) at Redstone Arsenal, AL, in the Munitions Training Department (MTD) and Command and Staff until his retirement in 2001.
Roger’s other activities included membership in the Alabama Masonic Lodge, being an Alabama Master Gardener, being an auxiliary Keel Mountain Volunteer Fire Department member, volunteering at the Gurley Public Library, and being a poll worker in his election precinct. Roger was also an avid reader.
Roger is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol Elizabeth (Mitchon) Crooks; his son, Marc Wesley Crooks and wife, Judith Anne (Skinner) Crooks; and his son, Richard Ervin Crooks and wife, Giselle Martina (Veras) Crooks. His grandchildren include Christopher Matthew Crooks, Hannah Faith (Crooks) Stewart and husband Kenny Stewart, Alyssa Grace Crooks; and step-grandchildren Sarah Giselle Cepelik and Paul Michael Cepelik. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert Louis Crooks and Toby Richard Crooks, and his grandson, Wesley Colin Crooks.
Services are private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Merrimackhall.com for special needs persons, to the Keel Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, 2171 Keel Mtn. Rd., Gurley, AL 35748, or to the charity of your choice.
