Lillian Crook passed away quietly on July 14, 2023, at the age of 107.
We miss her dearly and we celebrate her wonderful life which was filled with love, kindness, and generosity.
She was born Lillian Dorothy Geary on a farm near Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan in 1916. She and her three sisters and two brothers enjoyed many adventures there. When chores were done, if they weren't riding horses into the river by grabbing their tails, they were hitting shotgun shells with rocks, and playing with broken glass. Lillian enjoyed school and was very keen on sports, especially baseball and track and field. Although small in stature she was exceptionally strong physically and that lasted throughout her lifetime.
Lillian was hard working and had an entrepreneurial spirit. After leaving the farm, she and her sister Nora set up a hairdressing shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Later, she and her sister Marguerite ran a flower shop in Penticton, British Columbia.
Lillian met her future husband, Stanley Crook, in Atikokan, Ontario. Apparently, Stanley took her on a date and asked her if she'd like an ice cream cone. When she said "Yes", he replied "Got a nickel?" That example of the famous Crook charm did the trick, it seems. Lillian and Stan were both born and raised in Saskatchewan, met in Ontario, married in BC. and lived in Saskatchewan. After Lillian and Stan were married, they lived on the Crook family farm near Liseaux, Saskatchewan for about three years. They then moved to Moose Jaw, where they raised a son and a daughter.
After her children had grown up, Lillian managed the Canadian Bible Society bookstore, growing it from a modest little shop in a basement to a large storefront on Main Street.
Lillian had a very strong and deep spiritual life. As a Christian, she exemplified love, tolerance, kindness, and forgiveness. She was very active and well-known within the Moose Jaw Christian community and was President of the local Women’s Inter-Church Council for several years. After Stanley passed away, she moved to Regina and she continued her involvement, attending Regina churches and participating in Christian charities and telephone counselling.
After having a stroke and no longer able to live on her own at 97, she moved to the picturesque town of Wolseley into Lakeside Care home.
Lillian is cherished and missed by her son Glen (Janet) Crook and their children Johnathan (Jessica) and Daniel and also by her daughter Carlene (Greig) Charlton, their daughter Jennifer (Rob) Boyer, their son Paul (Jessie) Charlton, and her 5 great grandchildren Matthew and Brayden Boyer, Cameron, Blake and Sloane Charlton who all fondly refer to her as “Nana the Great”.
We wish to extend a special thank you to the staff at Lakeside Home in Wolseley for taking such good care of Lillian during her nine years there. She spoke of the staff with much appreciation and affection.
Lillian will be buried beside her beloved husband Stanley at a small family funeral in Moose Jaw.
