Frances Elizabeth Crook

Frances Elizabeth Crook September 1, 1921 - July 16, 2009 Frances Elizabeth Crook, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister passed away Thursday, July 16, 2009, surrounded by her children. A private graveside service will be held at Waco Memorial Park. She was a teller of tales, possessor of a rapier- like wit, coupled with an angelic smile, a woman of substance, intelligence, grace, humor, always unfailingly kind and polite. In short, Mom was a force of nature. Frances was born September 1, 1921, in Wichita, Kansas, to John and Florence Cunnick. She got to Texas as quickly as she could, arriving with family in tow in 1929. She graduated from Waco High in 1939. Frances was a single working mother after the war with three sons to raise. Mom was tenacious in her dream of becoming a nurse, and in 1954 she graduated from Baylor University with a degree in nursing. In 1957 she married Edward Crook and began a journey that included travel, sheep dogs and the building of all things cement. She went back to college at Texas Women�s University in 1976 becoming a geriatric nurse practitioner. Mom taught and worked for 32 years at the Waco Veterans Hospital before retiring. She had a life long love of learning, which included dragging Dad to TSTC, and together they became licensed veterinarian technicians in 1977. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Edward Crook. Frances is survived by her children, Robert Crook, John Crook, Thomas Crook, Roger Von Staden, Clare Crook and Mary Crook; seven grandchildren, 5 � great-grandchildren; and her brother, John Cunnick and wife, Ann. The family would like to thank Sheri Fisk and Janie Herbert of Scott and White Hospice for their care. In Lieu offlowers, the family suggests a contribution to the cbharity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our �Memorial Guestbook� at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.