Carolyn Crook

Carolyn Marie (Butler) Crook, born in Akron, Ohio and resided in West Bloomfield, Michigan, died peacefully at home on August 30, 2024 in the care of her family and the wonderful nurses from Henry Ford Hospice. Cary grew up in Akron, Ohio attending St. Sebastian's grade school and St. Vincent's-St. Mary's High School where she excelled academically. She was one of four children of Edward and Ruth (Labbe) Butler, who were active leaders and volunteers in Akron. Cary attended Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan where she made cherished, lifelong friendships. She returned to Akron and began teaching at St. Sebastian's school. It was at that time she met the love of her life, David Crook, when they both attended a singles mixer and he asked her to dance. Dave knew Cary was the one for him and the Butlers warmly brought him into their family.

Dave and Cary were married at St. Sebastian's Church in Akron on July 2, 1966.

A year later they welcomed their daughter, Jennifer and continued to grow their family with the birth of son Michael and daughter Cyndy. Cary was a member of the Junior League of Akron and loved gardening, reading and spending time with her family. In 1977, the Crook family moved to West Bloomfield, Michigan and joined St. Hugo of the Hills parish where the children attended school. Cary became active in the Junior League of Birmingham, Michigan and extended her gardening skills to the Crook's new home in Michigan. She loved to sing and joined a Chorus group that brought her many wonderful friendships as they practiced in each others' homes and sang at local nursing homes for residents. Cary enjoyed family trips to Northern Michigan, especially to Camp Michigania on Walloon Lake. Cary and Dave had many enjoyable travels with a highlight being their trip to Ireland in May of 2007. In recent years, she most enjoyed traveling to Yakima, Washington, Templeton, Pennsylvania and Cold Spring, New York to visit and care for her beloved grandchildren, Andrew Crook, Emma and James Lindahl and Ronan and Liam Marrinan. She courageously battled progressive bulbar palsy, a form of ALS, and found joy in the messages and notes of love and concern from her large circle of family and friends.

Cary is survived by her husband, Dave, and children Jennifer (Chris) Schmalz, Michael (Amy) Crook and Cyndy (Craig) Lindahl and her grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Emily (Tony) Petrarca and Kenneth (Robin) Butler. Her brother Edward (Elizabeth) Butler Jr. predeceased her.

A funeral mass will be held 11AM on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at St. Sebastian's Church in Akron, Ohio located at 476 Mull Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44320. Visitation with the family at church begins at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Cary's memory to Ronald McDonald House Charities Pittsburgh (which is adjacent to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital) https://rmhcpgh-mgtn.org/donate/ or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/ or the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit https://www.cskdetroit.org/.