Thomas Paul Crook's Obituary
He was a good old boy and he played in tune.
Thomas Paul Crook
February 16, 1944 - February 4, 2026
Tom was born to Buck and Ruby. He was one of four siblings: Billy (deceased), Wanda (deceased), and Norma, and he was the youngest. His mother once joked that when she found out she was pregnant with Tom after seven years, she wanted to throw herself into the ocean. Yet he quickly became the most indulged of all the children. His sister Norma said he looked like a drowned red rat when he was first brought home.
Tom's dad was a talented guitarist and square dance caller, and music ran deep in the family. Tom began playing at the age of four - the thing he loved most as a child. Before long, he was already being paid to play at local venues.
His father often said that the best musicians were rarely famous and that making a living playing guitar was no easy task. Tom was not much of a student, excelling mainly in music, baseball, and shop class. His teachers would say they liked him, but he was disruptive - always the class clown, a title he carried proudly for the rest of his life.
Tom graduated from Central High and briefly tried college, but his heart belonged to music.
When he and his friends opened for Chuck Berry, the Tulsans begged for "Tommy" to keep playing. Eventually, Chuck Berry himself told him, "Boy, lay down."
Over the years, Tom played with both well-known and lesser-known musicians and held a longtime gig at the airport. He was a musician's musician. He also played two USO tours. Tom often said his life had been one big party - he couldn't wait to get up and go each morning.
At 38, he began distancing himself from that party lifestyle. At one point, he even said his guitar could be set on fire for all he cared.
In 1982, he met the woman who would become his final wife of 41 years. She was from Cheyenne, Wyoming, raised Southern Baptist. Though she had been married before and was not entirely na ve, she admitted to some culture shock as he shared stories from his colorful past. It seemed he had already lived three lifetimes. He was upfront about everything. Despite their different temperaments, they clicked. He told her he had never met anyone like her.
Tom became a devoted family man. Their early years together were full of fun and laughter. In 1991, they welcomed their daughter, Bonnie. Tom was a wonderful father, teaching her about trees, birds, and so much more about the world around her.
In recent years, Tom quietly faded with dementia before ultimately succumbing to an undiagnosed illness.
A heartfelt thank you to the hospice staff, who ensured he was comfortable and pain-free.
To all who loved him, he will always be deeply loved and missed.
We know many of you carry stories about Tom. He was hilarious, charming, and every bit the gentleman.
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