Dr. James Morton Crooms Sr.

MACON – Dr. James Morton Crooms, Sr., 88, entered into rest on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. Funeral services with military honors will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 26, 2011 in the mausoleum chapel of Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, 7070 Houston Road, Macon. Bishop Mark Weathers, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, will officiate.

Dr. Crooms was born on November 16, 1922 in Devereau, Georgia to the late Morton Miller Crooms and Ola Belle Roberson Crooms. He was preceded in death by his wife Sylvia Maxine Wade Crooms and sisters, Dorothy Crooms and Frances Crooms Carter.

An optometrist of over fifty years, he was in private practice and had offices in Macon, Milledgeville, Forsyth and Cochran, and was also owner of several Pearle Vision Centers for several years. He was a graduate of Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, Georgia, attended the University of Ohio, University of Kentucky, New York State University and received his doctor of optometry degree from the Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee in 1952. He was a member of numerous optometric associations and was a charter member of the Lions Club, Cochran, Georgia.

Dr. Crooms was a World War II Army veteran serving and stationed in France and Germany. He was among the many brave soldiers who landed at Omaha Beach during the Normandy Invasion on D-Day. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion.

His memory will forever be cherished by his children, son, James Morton Crooms, Jr. (Nancy), Milledgeville, Georgia; daughter Arlette Mairesse (Daniel), Jasper, Georgia; son, Michael Crooms, Midway, Georgia; stepsons, Kem Stuart (Barbara), Macon, Georgia and Gary Stuart, Atlanta, Georgia; eleven grandchildren, Tina Walker (Aubrey), Fadra Taylor (Roy), Rachel Reynolds (Ryan), Jessie Crooms (Eric), Layla Aldaco (Dennis), Autumn Knight (Brandon), Paige McIntyre, Alan Pfund, Mathew Herrington, Starsha Crooms and Wesley Crooms; eighteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Dr. Crooms loved animals with a passion and gave homes to many over the years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the All about Animals No Kill Shelter, http//www.allaboutanimalsmacon.org.

Please visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Services, Pio Nono Avenue has charge of arrangements.