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BORN
1938
DIED
2025
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James Crooker Obituary
May 22, 1938 - July 22, 2025
Prairie Village, Kansas - James Owen Crooker, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025 after suffering from a head injury due to a fall. He was 87 years old.
He is survived by his wife Betty, son Greg (Laura) of Overland Park Kansas, son Chris (Shari) of Atlanta, Georgia and son Shaun of Overland Park Kansas. Grandchildren, Kyle Crooker (Kaley), Conner Crooker (Chloe), Cole Crooker (Alyson), Brendan Crooker and Spencer Crooker.
Born on May 22, 1938 in Lee's Summit, Missouri to Hazel and James Crooker. He was united in marriage to Betty on July 29, 1959 at Memorial Christian Church in KCMO. Jim and Betty met at Research Medical Center while Jim was a patient and Betty was his nurse.
Jim received a B.S. degree in Architectural Engineering in 1961 from the University of Kansas and an M.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1967 and an MBA degree at Rockhurst College in 1980.
He wrote a book on an integrated framework solution for plates of variable and constant rigidities.
He spent his early years at Butler Manufacturing in KCMO and then started a computer business setting up many small businesses with office systems. He was very successful trading stocks in the market in the last ten years.
Jim was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He loved to play golf at Milburn Country Club in the summer and Manzanillo Mexico in the winter. He spent time in the Junior Achievement program in Kansas City Urban Partners Program tutoring disadvantaged children in math.
He taught the grandchildren to have a strong moral compass and told them to not let it go South. He almost died 7 years ago and reported he went through a dark tunnel and after he survived he was determined to stay in the light. He was a member of The Village Presbyterian Church and knew Jesus and had peace.
He was kind and his absence will be felt deeply by all who knew him. He will be missed but long remembered.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 2:00 pm at Village Presbyterian Church 6641 Mission Rd. Prairie Village Kansas 66208 with a reception following. The family kindly requests memorials be sent to Village Presbyterian Church and to Operation Breakthrough. Arr: Signature Funerals www.signaturefunerals.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Crooker
Sponsored by Kansas City Star.
3 Entries
Greg Skinner
August 2, 2025
I am so sorry to hear about Jim's passing. I remember spending, what seemed like half of my junior high years, at the Crookers. Gladly eating dinner with the family when invited and playing pool. Jim was always very gracious even though I'm sure he didn't want yet another kid in his house. I do remember him putting me to work to "pay off all of the food I ate at their house". Deepest condolences to the Crooker family. Greg
Mark Anderson
July 26, 2025
So sorry Betty and family! Known Betty for years through church and front porch alliance, while her partner, gentleman Jim
Was recently a part of my life through our Village golf group which I recently started playing (Jim could always out drive me) and bridge!! What a great person and model of keeping going in life for sure. Contagious smile always! He will be missed.
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