Obituary for Brother Noble Joseph "Don" Donaldson Crook, P.M.
This is the re-published obituary form the CC Caller-Times, December 23, 2015 in the Hiram's Followers provided by our own Scribe Tom Wimberly, P.M.
Joseph Donaldson (Donald) Crook, age 78, went to meet our Heavenly Father on December 21, 2015. Donald was born September 27, 1937, in Gonzales County, Texas to Homer and Velma Baker Crook.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James Arnold Crook. Survivors include his wife, Judy Ellen, of Rockport, Texas; son, Joseph Donaldson Crook, Jr. (Linda) of Denver, Colorado; daughters, Cathlyn Crook Niedert (Gary) of Rockwall, Texas, and Jeanne Blanton Feathers (Charley aka Bubba) of Memphis, Tennessee.
He is also survived by step-children, Allison Blackwell of Cuero, Texas; Johnny Blackwell (Kelly) of Cuero, Texas; Beverly Kuecker (Jimmy) of Cuero, Texas; and Randy Henry (Cindy) of Cuero, Texas. He is survived by five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and numerous step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by sisters, Gayle (Buddy) Bell of Smiley, Texas; Margaret Hill (Jack) of Montgomery, Texas; and Hope Yosko of Karnes City, Texas. He is survived by his first wife and mother of his children, Peggy Mackey Crook, of Rockwall, Texas.
Donald completed high school in Gonzales, Texas and attended Austin Community College. He worked as a lineman for Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative and moved into management there. He retired after 20 years and moved into the banking industry. He served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Texas Bank in Baytown, Texas, Mont Belview State Bank and Northshore Bank of Houston.
Donald served for 16 years in the Texas National Guard. He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Captain.
Donald was active in civic organizations in Gonzales, Houston, Mt Belview, Baytown, and Rockport. He was a Christian and Baptist. For the past 14 years he has been active in Masonry and the Masonic Organizations. He served as Worshipful Master of the Goose Creek Masonic Lodge in Baytown, Texas where he received the Golden Trowel Award for exceptional service. He is a past member of the Baytown Shrine Club and Arabian Shrine Temple of Houston, Texas. He is currently a member of the Rockport Masonic Lodge, Al Amin Temple of Corpus Christi, Texas and Rockport Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. He is a member of Copano Shrine Club, Provost Shooters, The Order of Q, Provost Guard, and Jesters.
Donald has served for four years on the board of Al Amin Shrine Temple in Corpus Christi. At the time of his death he was the Potentate Elect to be installed on January 1, 2016. He was looking forward to a great year doing the thing he loved most, working for the benefit of children who need the services of our Shriners Hospitals. He loved to hear the success stories of children who have benefited from treatment at our hospitals. On Saturday night before his passing, he was excited to learn from our waiter at a dinner honoring the current Potentate that the waiter’s mother was brought to the Houston hospital from Mexico by Shriners and treated so that she could walk at the age of eight. His mother is now living in Corpus and Donald introduced him to the group and had him tell his story. Donald asked him to bring his mother to the Shrine Temple to get a ticket for our January Circus at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi. Donald also served as an associate board member of the Shriners Hospital in Houston. He was extremely proud of the work done by all Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Donald died Monday night while giving a lecture at the Sunset Masonic Lodge in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was doing the work he loved with the brothers he was so close to.
A viewing will be held Monday night, December 28, 2015 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Charley Marshall Funeral Home in Rockport, Texas. Funeral Services will be at First Baptist Church, Rockport, Texas on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 10 am. Interment will be at Bundick Cemetery in Smiley, Texas at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Children’s Hospital Transportation Fund of Al Amin Shrine, Corpus Christi, Texas or the charity of your choice. In memory of Donald, take a child to the Shrine Circus!
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James Arnold Crook. Survivors include his wife, Judy Ellen, of Rockport, Texas; son, Joseph Donaldson Crook, Jr. (Linda) of Denver, Colorado; daughters, Cathlyn Crook Niedert (Gary) of Rockwall, Texas, and Jeanne Blanton Feathers (Charley aka Bubba) of Memphis, Tennessee.
He is also survived by step-children, Allison Blackwell of Cuero, Texas; Johnny Blackwell (Kelly) of Cuero, Texas; Beverly Kuecker (Jimmy) of Cuero, Texas; and Randy Henry (Cindy) of Cuero, Texas. He is survived by five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and numerous step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by sisters, Gayle (Buddy) Bell of Smiley, Texas; Margaret Hill (Jack) of Montgomery, Texas; and Hope Yosko of Karnes City, Texas. He is survived by his first wife and mother of his children, Peggy Mackey Crook, of Rockwall, Texas.
Donald completed high school in Gonzales, Texas and attended Austin Community College. He worked as a lineman for Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative and moved into management there. He retired after 20 years and moved into the banking industry. He served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Texas Bank in Baytown, Texas, Mont Belview State Bank and Northshore Bank of Houston.
Donald served for 16 years in the Texas National Guard. He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Captain.
Donald was active in civic organizations in Gonzales, Houston, Mt Belview, Baytown, and Rockport. He was a Christian and Baptist. For the past 14 years he has been active in Masonry and the Masonic Organizations. He served as Worshipful Master of the Goose Creek Masonic Lodge in Baytown, Texas where he received the Golden Trowel Award for exceptional service. He is a past member of the Baytown Shrine Club and Arabian Shrine Temple of Houston, Texas. He is currently a member of the Rockport Masonic Lodge, Al Amin Temple of Corpus Christi, Texas and Rockport Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. He is a member of Copano Shrine Club, Provost Shooters, The Order of Q, Provost Guard, and Jesters.
Donald has served for four years on the board of Al Amin Shrine Temple in Corpus Christi. At the time of his death he was the Potentate Elect to be installed on January 1, 2016. He was looking forward to a great year doing the thing he loved most, working for the benefit of children who need the services of our Shriners Hospitals. He loved to hear the success stories of children who have benefited from treatment at our hospitals. On Saturday night before his passing, he was excited to learn from our waiter at a dinner honoring the current Potentate that the waiter’s mother was brought to the Houston hospital from Mexico by Shriners and treated so that she could walk at the age of eight. His mother is now living in Corpus and Donald introduced him to the group and had him tell his story. Donald asked him to bring his mother to the Shrine Temple to get a ticket for our January Circus at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi. Donald also served as an associate board member of the Shriners Hospital in Houston. He was extremely proud of the work done by all Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Donald died Monday night while giving a lecture at the Sunset Masonic Lodge in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was doing the work he loved with the brothers he was so close to.
A viewing will be held Monday night, December 28, 2015 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Charley Marshall Funeral Home in Rockport, Texas. Funeral Services will be at First Baptist Church, Rockport, Texas on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at 10 am. Interment will be at Bundick Cemetery in Smiley, Texas at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Children’s Hospital Transportation Fund of Al Amin Shrine, Corpus Christi, Texas or the charity of your choice. In memory of Donald, take a child to the Shrine Circus!