William "Bill" Burgess Crooker III

A Celebration of Life for William “Bill” Burgess Crooker III will be held on June 7, 2025, at the Cultural Activities Center (Strasburger Hall) in Temple at 2 pm. Visitation will be from 5 pm - 7 pm, Friday, June 6, 2025 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home.

Bill was born on March 12, 1954, to William Burgess Crooker, Jr. and Joyce Glenn Crooker in Big Spring, Texas. He attended schools in Big Spring and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 1976 from North Texas State University.

Bill worked in various capacities in the restaurant industry in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for several years. It was here where he honed his expert cooking skills which he continued his entire life. It was a fortunate person indeed who was treated to a meal prepared by Bill.

In 1980, Bill moved to the Waco area where he embarked on a career in orthopedic sales for Zimmer that would span close to 50 years.

He married Teri Franklin and together they had a daughter, Amber Crooker Hemphill, and a son, William Franklin Crooker. Bill’s children were his world. He was the happiest cheering from the sidelines at Amber’s cheer and gymnastics competitions and William’s many baseball games.

To say Bill was an extraordinary salesman would be an understatement. After commencing his career with Zimmer in 1980, he earned the first of many Salesman of the Year awards in 1984. Bill’s expertise was remarkably respected in the operating room. Physicians trusted Bill to provide his exemplary aptitude and guidance in every procedure. In addition to Salesman of the Year, Bill earned multiple Top Performer of the Year recognitions and was a ten-time President’s Club Award winner.

Bill was a fervent outdoorsman and golfer. He loved his annual hunting trips with his son and later his son-in-law. He taught his son to appreciate the beauty in nature. Many trips never yielded a harvest but the food, Old Fashioneds, and campfires were always worth the trip.

When it came to food, Bill prided himself on discovering and indulging in the best dining experiences as well as having others share those experiences. He carried this appreciation into his own kitchen where he prepared only the best dishes for family and friends. Bill also valued a good bottle of wine, and he taught many others over the years to value those wines as well.

Golf was one of the most special things in Bill’s life. From his time on the golf team at Big Spring High School to playing on some of the best courses in the country, Bill never missed an opportunity to tee off when he could. He was adamant that you could tell a lot about a man’s character by how he conducted himself on the golf course. If he wasn’t on the links playing a round, Bill was taking their dog, Cecil, on a morning cart ride or on the patio enjoying the view with a glass of wine or bourbon.

When Bill moved to Temple, he married Debbie Miranda. His love of golf led him to build their dream home on the golf course. Bill and Deb loved to travel, and Las Vegas was one of their favorite destinations. They enjoyed the fine dining and concerts. While traveling and partaking in new adventures was fun, the simple pleasures of sharing evenings at home watching movies, dancing and cooking in the kitchen, and sitting on the couch watching Wheel of Fortune will be missed the most.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Bill Jr. and Joyce, and an infant brother, James.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie Crooker of Temple; children Amber Hemphill and husband Jeremy, and son William, all of Hewitt; sisters Karen Patterson and husband Dan of Big Spring, and Dori Wegner and husband Ronnie of San Angelo; granddaughters Kade and Ryan Hemphill of Hewitt, several nieces and nephews, and by countless friends and colleagues.