Joan Abbott Crook

Joan Abbott Crook of Candler, passed from this life on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was surrounded by family at Emerald Ridge Rehabilitation Center where she was receiving care and from Hospice of CarePartners. Joan Abbott Crook was born in Toledo, Ohio, to Bert and Hattie Mae Abbott. At an early age she and her aunt, Blanch McFarland, moved to Redington Beach, Florida. She graduated from Largo High School and attended Florida State University, taking a degree in political science. She is survived by her husband Thomas Crook of Candler; her daughters, Michelle Crook of Clearwater, FL and Carol Donahue and her husband Michael of Candler; son, Thomas Crook II and his partner, Carol Duermit, of Candler; and grandchildren, Sharon and Kevin Donahue and Camden Crook, all of Candler. She became a journalist, beginning while she was in high school, working for the St. Petersburg Independent. While at FSU she was one of the editors of the Flambeau, the student newspaper. She continued her journalism career with the St. Petersburg Times (now the Tampa Bay Times) and then with the Clearwater Sun. In the 1970's she took a master's degree in English education from the University of South Florida and then taught for 26 years in Dunedin High School. Her teaching field was American literature and she was Chairwoman of the English Department. In 1964, she married the love of her life, Thomas. Married for 53 years they both continued their careers in education. Throughout her married life, Joan was a devoted wife and mother. With her family, many memorable and adventurous activities were shared: riding elephants and camels at various zoos, canoeing along several Florida rivers, white-water rafting and tubing in the mountains, and ziplining. She also enjoyed watching the grandchildren in their various sports and music activities. She was a long-time member of the Episcopal Church. She served as a Vestryperson and Senior Warden of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Dunedin. Throughout her life Joan was also involved in volunteering as president of the Junior Service League of Dunedin and as president of the Dunedin Friends of the Library. She was also a member of the Dunedin Fine Arts Guild which was instrumental in establishing the Dunedin Art Museum. After moving to the Asheville area, she volunteered as a Docent at the Cathedral of All Souls and as a board member of the Enka-Candler Friends of the Library. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Cathedral of All Souls, 9 Swan St., Asheville, NC 28803 on Wednesday, October 18 at 2:00 pm. Interment will be in the Memorial Garden at All Souls, and a reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to either Friends of Music of All Souls Episcopal Cathedral, Asheville or to Memory Care of Asheville. Groce Funeral Home is assisting the family.