The Paonian (Paonia, Colorado), April 21, 1921

     One of the most largely attended funerals ever held in Paonia was that of W. R. Crook, who passed away at his home in Paonia April 14th.  The services were held in the Methodist church Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, in charge of his pastor, the Rev. A. S. Weeks.  Monday morning the body was taken to Falls City, Neb., for interment, in charge of the widow and their son, Z. E. Crook of Denver.  A large number of friends honored his memory by their presence at the hour of departure, the pallbearers being long-time friends of Mr. Crook.

     William Riley Crook and his wife moved to our valley from their home in Falls City, Neb., when Paonia was a village of a dozen houses and the only store in the town was the old combination store and postoffice at the head of Grand avenue.  For twenty-five years he lived continuously in Paonia and its vicinity and during that time was looked upon by all the citizens of the valley as one of the leaders in the community.  His sound counsel and advice has been sought in most of the many enterprises which have marked the development of this district.

     In 1902 he assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Paonia and was actively associated with the affairs of that bank since that time as director and officer.  His most widely known contribution to the community welfare, however, was in his active connection with the Methodist Episcopal church.  He assisted liberally at the time of the erection of the church in 1899, not only in a financial way, but with an untiring contribution of his time and energy which assisted greatly in bringing the project to a successful completion.  He had been a progressive leader in all phases of church work since he joined the church in 1868 and on the Sunday before his death was present at all the services of the day.

     At the time of his death and for many years previously he was justice of the peace in Paonia.  His decisions were just, tempered with a mercy which caused all litigants to feel that the law was established for their protection, rather than for persecution.

     Among the papers in his desk was found the following brief sketch of his life, in his own handwriting, which was recently written and shows that he must have had a premonition that he was approaching the end:

     “Wm. R. Crook, born December 28, 1843, in Andrew county, Mo., oldest son of Isaac and Lucinda Crook, of the state of Alabama.  Moved to Richardson county, Neb., with his parents in 1856.  Lived in Nebraska until 1896, when he moved with his family to Delta county, Colorado.  On March 13, 1873, he and Lucinda A. Martin were married.  They had three sons, Zeno E., Joseph F., and Isaac W.  The last named died in infancy.

     “The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm but was taken from the farm into the railway mail service in 1874.  He was in this service for nine years, until 1883, when he was appointed postmaster at Falls City, Neb., in which position he was occupied until 1896, when he moved to Colorado.  In his youth Mr. Crook had traveled through many of the eastern and southern states and on the western coast from the state of Washington to Panama.  He joined the Methodist church in 1868 and has been a member of the church ever since.”

     This modest statement of his life history is characteristic of the man who numbered among his warm friends many of the leading citizens of the state and nation, as well as the humblest boys and girls on the street.

    A good man has come and gone, and the world is a better place in which to live because he has passed this way.  May his reward in Heaven be commensurate with the kindly feeling toward him in the hearts of all his friends.

     Besides his widow he leaves his two sons, Zeno E. Crook, and his wife and daughter Eleanor, of 325 Bannock street, Denver, and Joseph F. Crook, and his wife, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The Falls City [Nebraska] Journal, April 18, 1921

William Riley Crook died at Paonia, Colo, April 14, 1921.  He was born December 28, 1844, and was one of the early residents of Falls City, having served as deputy postmaster and postmaster in this city for several years during his residence here.  He was the brother of the late Jack Crook.

The body will be brought to this city on Burlington train No. 10, arriving in Falls City Wednesday, April 20, accompanied by Mrs. Crook and son Zeno.  The funeral will be held from the Methodist church Thursday, April 21, at 2:30 p. m., Rev. Reed officiating.  Pall bearers who will act are Frank Schiable, L. C. Madger, Dr. Boose, T. J. Gist, G. W. Schock, W. H. Maddox.

Interment will follow in Steele cemetery.

Rocky Mountain News (Denver), Jan. 7, 1942, p. 14, col. 3

Mrs. Lucinda A. Crook, a resident of Colorado for nearly 60 years, died yesterday at the home of her son, Zeno E. Crook, 1040 S. Franklin st., after a brief illness.  She was 86.

Mrs. Crook was born in Sidney, Iowa, in 1856, and attended public school there.  When she was 14, the family moved to Falls City, Neb.

In 1873, she married William R. Crook in Falls City.  He was a railway postal clerk, and, later became postmaster there.  In the 80’s [90's!], they moved to Paonia, Colo., and Mr. Crook was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Paonia.  After his death, in 1921, Mrs. Crook moved to Denver.

She was a member of the Grant Avenue Methodist Church.

Surviving, also, is another son, Joseph F. Crook of Bennetts [Venice!], Calif.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., tomorrow, in the Hofmann Mortuary.  Burial will be a Falls City, Neb.