Margaret Crook, age 99, of Manhattan, died Thursday August 3, 2023 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan.
She was born on October 6, 1923 in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Raymond Ross and Alice (Boyd) Taylor. She grew up in Topeka and attended local schools and graduated from Topeka High School with the class of 1941. Her grandparents were in the first graduating class of Topeka High School of 1871. One of her grandfathers lived in Gettysburg and attended the Gettysburg address. Her father and his brother were the sons of Taylor nurseries in Topeka and worked closely with Kansas State University Ag department and sent apple seedlings all over the U.S. They came to Oakwood farms in Topeka in 1849 and lived there for 85 years.
Margaret was married to William V. Crook in 1941 in Pueblo, Colorado. He preceded her in death in 1992. She then was married to Lark. D. May in Topeka in 1997, he passed away in 2005. She later was married to Wallace Jeffrey, he preceded her in death in 2019.
Margaret and William were blessed with four children: William V. Crook Jr., Bruce R. Crook, Thomas R. Crook, and Carol Anne Crook. Margaret worked for many years as an assistant to the Riley County Engineer's until her retirement in 1986. She was a member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan. Her philosophy in life was to have a little fun every day. And she did! She loved people and could talk and laugh with the best of them.
In addition to her husbands, Margaret was also preceded in death by her son William “Billy” Crook Jr. and also her daughter Carol Anne Crook.
She is survived by her sons, Bruce Crook and Tom Crook and her step-son Gerry Jeffrey and step-daughter Dixie Coursen; also her 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.