Olive Crook
Service: 10 a.m. Monday, Oct.12, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home, with family gathering from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at the home of Arlis McCoy in Valley Springs.
Olive Mae Crook passed away peacefully surrounded by family Thursday, Oct. 8 (2015) at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.
She was born July 18, 1937 in Everton to Albert and Winnie Choate. She graduated from Bruno High School, where she excelled in basketball and was recruited by the All American Red Heads. After graduating, she moved to Denver, Colorado, where she met her husband Howard Crook. She enjoyed skiing, camping, and fishing in the Rocky Mountains. After her husband’s death in 1971 she moved back to Arkansas with her son Homer and daughters Margaret and Sandy. Olive was a member of the Everton Baptist Church. She was employed by the Arkansas Highway Police and retired after 25 years as a Second Lieutenant. In 2004 she moved to Centerton and lived with her daughter. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, and taking trips throughout the Ozarks to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The loves of her life called her Granny. Phillip, Katie, Ryan, Corbin, Brady, Blake, Hudson, Davis, and Kyslynn filled her heart with joy. Many nieces, nephews and friends of her children considered her a second mom. Whether she was Mom, Granny or Aunt Ollie, her home was always filled with children, love, laughter and something good cooking on the stove.
She is survived by her children, Homer Crook of Yellville, Margaret and Mike Buerkle of Stuttgart, and Sandy Crook of Centerton; grandchildren, Phillip and Jayme Richey of Lead Hill, Katie and Hunter Lake of Fort Smith, Ryan Crook of Centerton and Corbin Buerkle of Fayetteville; great-grandchildren, Brady Jones of Bergman and Kyslynn Crook of Bentonville; sister, Airis McCoy of Valley Springs; brothers, Raymond Choate of Everton, and Winston Choate of Lead Hill.
She was preceded in death by her husband Howard Crook; father Albert Choate; mother Winnie Choate; brother Sanford Choate; and sister-in-laws Una Choate and Kathleen Choate.
Service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home in Harrison. If you would like to join us, the family will be gathering at the home of Airis McCoy in Valley Springs from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11.
