From a long and fruitful life our beloved Dr. Jackie “Jack” Lee Crocker DDS, 81, having endured 7 years of vascular dementia, was serenely embraced, under guided wings, into our Lord’s embrace Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
Jack will be reposed with a private family committal in the cemetery of his heritage at East Highland Lutheran Church, Brandt SD, Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 9:00 am. A Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be read at 9:30 am followed by a Funeral Mass to celebrate Jack at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church, Columbia SC, Friday, November 10, 2023 at 10:00 am. Family and friends will be received immediately following Mass at the Parish Life center at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, send a message of love to someone who may need to hear from you.
A heartfelt thanks to all of our friends and family who shared their time and love these past seven years; it made the unbearable bearable.
Jack was a faithful servant to God through the Catholic Church, devoted and cherishing husband, steadfast father, grandfather and ardently dedicated to family and community.
Jack was born September 16, 1942, in Chicago IL. Jack met Sharon their sophomore year in 1958 at Lennox HS, CA, marrying in Pasadena, CA on September 18, 1964 and days later entered the Pepperdine pre dental school. Graduating University of Illinois Medical Center, Dental School 1970 Jack then went to serve in the US Army, Fort Jackson SC Dental Corps as a Captain 1971-73.
During that time Jack and Sharon found their lifetime love and home in the cradle of Lake Murray, Lexington SC where together they raised his beloved sons and served his communities health and spiritual devotions. We were blessed and fortunately, we knew it.
Jack was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate 1983 in the Diocese of Charleston SC and over the next 40 years, served the communities of Our Lady of the Hills, Corpus Christi and St Thomas More Catholic Churches before retiring due to changes in his health.
Jack owned and operated his dental practice from 1971 till his early retirement. It was in retirement that Jack worked the most and always found projects to keep him busy. Jack loved the outdoors, cruising in his Lotta D’Kay boat (or taking it to the repair shop) and providing for his family at all costs. He was an aviation enthusiast and spent many hours meticulously working on his lifelong dream of building a kit airplane. He passed his enthusiasm to his sons.
Revered by family, friends, and patients, Dr Jack had an uncanny ability to connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Every person that recalls a memory of Jack, does so with a twinkle in their eye and a smile on their face.
Our family wish is to convey to families dealing with any kind of dementia that, at this time, it is not a battle to be had, but an experience to yield to; every day being called to yield more than you did the day before.
It is an illness that the whole family experiences together, not just the victim. If you have a loved one with dementia, these are the things we would share with you. You can never win an argument with someone with dementia. Never correct someone with dementia. You have to change. They cannot.
Always enjoy today no matter how stressful because tomorrow will probably be more difficult. Love your loved one with all of your might. They may not know you or remember any details of your relationship, but they feel your love and need it more than you can know.
Somehow, Jack knew Sharon and retained his gentle loving nature until the very end. That and the love of his family are the only things dementia did not take from him. He was called to relinquish everything else.
Jack is predeceased by infant first son Cyril Evan, first born grandson Kade Carson Crocker. Parents Cyril Edwin “Ed” and Dona Mae Johnson Crocker.
Jack is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Carson Crocker; sons, James Bernard and partner Kenneth “Ken” A. Walters Jr.; Dr John Conrad and his former wife and Jack’s daughter in law, Sarah Brown; Kirt Bouland; Kevin Roger and daughter in law Anastasia Koutrakos Crocker. Grandchildren Ian Michael, Evangelia "Evan" Mae, and Sharon Alexandra. Brother Roger Arthur and sister in law Crystell "Crys" Kimball Crocker, and nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dunbarfuneralhomedutchfork.com for the Crocker family.
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