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Karl was born on October 14, 1936 in Darlingston, Jamaica, West Indies to parents Samuel and Miriam Crooks. He was number five of six children; who have all pre-deceased him: Lilla, Mary, Enid, Neil and Wrenrick.
In his youth, Karl attended schools in Enfield and Kingston, Jamaica. He then migrated to England in 1955 with the plan to study Agriculture. There he met his lovely wife Kewpie Reid Crooks. They got married October 19, 1957 and returned to Jamaica in 1959. The marriage produced three (3) children Pamela, Paul (Junior), and Christabel.
While in Jamaica he worked for several companies before leaving for the United States with the family in 1984. He received training to use a prosthesis, since he had lost his right arm in an automobile accident many years before, and was hired by CMP Publications, a printing company. He worked in their Production Department until September 2001, just after 911 when he was laid off, and subsequently retired.
Karl loved the outdoors. Even in Jamaica, as a young adult, he spent his weekends tending to the Crooks family property and livestock. He was always known for having a “green thumb” and being very resourceful. If it had a seed, a branch, or roots he would find a way to make it grow into a viable and fruitful plant. He was also a bit of an engineer, and a craftsman. He could use any available materials and containers to grow plants, fruit trees and vegetables. There was very little that he considered as true garbage because he could repurpose just about anything for another use. What he did with his one arm not many could do with two. He climbed ladders, painted his house and fixed washers and dryers all with his one hand. On weekends and when he was no longer working, he would spend an entire day in his garden before he came indoors. He was known in the neighborhood as “the gardener” and even received an award for street beautification from the town. When he could no longer physically manage to tend to his garden, it deeply affected him, but he still found consolation by being outdoors. In his later years he often sat in his chair outside enjoying nature, listening to Sam Cooke or Nat King Cole and watching the cars and people that passed by. Karl also had a love for animals. While in the US he had pet birds, fish and a cat named Johnny that he adopted when it was only a stray kitten.
Karl Eglon Crooks passed away on August 8, 2020 in Oceanside, New York. He is survived by his wife, Kewpie, who lovingly called him “Crooksie”; his three children: Pamela, Paul and Christabel; daughter-in-law Denise Crooks; sons in law: Rev. Christopher Delmadge, and Ian Walcott; his 6 grandchildren: Danielle, Tamara, Paige, Cres, Christiana and Xander; his grandson-in-law, Freddy Graham; his 3 great grandchildren Avianna, Alessandro and Airyck; and his extended family members.
His tenacious personality and hearty laugh will be fondly remembered by family and friends. In heaven, he has a new body and his soul is at rest with Jesus.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to everyone for their prayers and support during this time of loss.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Karl E. Crooks, please visit our floral store.