Thomas "Tommy" Lewis Crook

Thomas Lewis Crook was born May 9th, 1953 to Mary Alice and Fred Edward Crook in Asheville, North Carolina. There were two siblings waiting to welcome him home to the house, Sharon (Slade), and Eddie Crook.

As so many before them have said, ”they got to Texas as fast as they could” - when Tommy was 2, the family moved to a small town outside of Houston, Texas. Alvin, Texas would be where Tommy would live throughout his 68 years.

Tommy’s father Fred went to work at a chemical plant, outside of Alvin. His father was a hard working man, who loved his family and worked his entire life at a chemical plant. This is included, because Tommy, followed in his father’s exact shoes.

Tommy went through all twelve grades in the Alvin Independent school district and went on to attend the University of Houston, where he played basketball and studied psychology. Tommy was a gifted athlete winning the kick and punt Texas award, as well as being offered two basketball scholarships. He was a quiet student with high intelligence. His attire for high school was impeccable, and his respect for others was admired. The love of basketball was second only to music.

At a young age, he had broken his leg, and his mother bought him a guitar…he learned to play by ear, and he and five other boys started a band at the age of 14. His love for music would stay within his heart, 'til the day he passed.

It was said that his brother Eddie made a bet with Tommy that he would not ask Jill Skeen out for a date. She was only 15 1/2 and was best friends with Eddie’s best friend’s sister. They double dated with Molly and Brad and were married 2 1/2 years later.

Tommy did not take the basketball scholarships, didn’t become a lawyer, or become a famous band member. He accomplished so much more than all of these things. He married the love of his life and then on November 9, 1980 they gave birth to his daughter, pride and joy, Dallas Tommy. He would later become a Papa to his two beloved granddaughters, Brinkley and Brazos. He even got his son, when Dallas married Taylor Benton West.

His group of friends was small; his brother-in-law Brad, brother Eddie, Uncle Ronnie, Red, Jim from work, and his two band mates, Bill and Gene, and of course his DCP work family, who he so cared about. The stories he would tell from Amoco, and DCP were hilarious. Tommy had a flair for jokes, imitating famous men, and don’t ask him a question unless you wanted a sometimes harsh truth.

His life was his family…like his father before him, he worked, came home ill, and then passed quickly. He and Jill were both staying at the home of Dallas and husband, Taylor. The home was close to his job and M.D. Anderson. They felt like they were at a resort . The constant love of the grand babies was their delight. How very blessed he was. Jill will live on for her daughter and grandbabies.

Jill would like to thank her daughter and son in law for their love, as well as Brinkley and Brazos,

her precious sister JoLynn, for being with her through out his hospitalization, Chris for being at the hospital, as well as Allison, Donna , Eddie, Hearin, Bill and Gene, Renita, and Diane, and neighbor Tim.

She would also like to thank their many friends for their prayers; Pastor LaCricia of Reigning Glory Church and God sent us Cletus Ejili, who is also anointed by our Lord and Savior. Thank you Holly for your guidance as well as Barbara and Perry for allowing us to share their son. We are thankful for God sending our very special nurse intensive care nurse Tara.

Preceding Tommy in death are his parents, Fred Edward and Mary Alice Crook; sister, Sharon Slade; niece, Stephanie Howard; uncles, Don Penland, Annette Penland , David Penland; aunts Evelyn and Ruth Ann.

Left to cherish Tommy's memories are his wife, Jill Crook; daughter, Dallas Tommy West, husband, Taylor Benton West; grand daughters, Brinkley Reese and Brazos Hayes; brother, Eddie Crook (Donna); nieces, Allison Cowen (Tom), Hearin Schmidt (Paul); great nieces, Emmerich, Porter, Viv; Sister in law-JoLynn Taylor (Brad); brother in laws, Chris Skeen (Vivi), John Skeen, and Michael, Rocky Skeen (Rhonda); niece, Nicole Taylor, Ashlyn and Walker; nephew, Jack Taylor, Jayden Rocky Skeen, Jr. (Viv) Ashby Winchester Skeen.

Serving as pall bearers are: Brad Taylor, Andrew Lopez, Jack Taylor, Kevin Thibodaux, Robert O'Hare, Gene Haygood, B. G . Guidry

Serving as honorary pall bearers are: Red, Eddie Crook, Bill Adams and Rocky Skeen