Gary S. Crooker

Gary S. Crooker, 72, lifetime resident of the Wilton, NH area, died on March 15, 2023 at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Nashua, NH.

He was born on September 6, 1950, in Nashua, NH, the son of Wesley and Lillian (Elliott) Crooker. Gary was raised and educated in Lyndeborough, and graduated from Wilton High School, Class of 1968.

Gary was an award-winning sportswriter and published author, writing for the Milford Cabinet, Monadnock Ledger and Nashua Telegraph. His forthcoming book Literary New Hampshire will be published by History Press in July. He was very active in his community and served on several town committees including the Wilton Planning Board and the WLC School Board. He was heavily involved in area youth sports including helping in the foundation of the WJAA, coaching various teams, and serving as the athletic director at Wilton-Lyndeborough High School. He spent more than 50 years planning Wilton Old Home Days, for which he received recognition as Wilton Citizen of the Year in 2014. A lover of antiquarian books, he owned and operated Crook’s Books since 1990.

Gary began his career at Draper Fuel in Wilton before becoming the general manager of T.C. Bolt in Greenfield. He was a longtime member of the Bent-Burke Post #10 in Wilton, where he currently served as Steward and bartender.

He was an avid sports fan, who loved the Boston Red Sox. He enjoyed making people laugh, but most especially enjoyed spending time with his loving family.

Family members include his loving wife, Melissa (Moore) Crooker of Wilton, NH; his children, Laurie Crooker and Arthur Deschenes of Wilton, NH, James and Leah Crooker of Bennington, NH, Elizabeth Crooker of Temple, NH, Sandra and Tobias Taylor of Albuquerque, NM and Kathleen and Nicholas Davis of Antrim, NH; seven grandchildren, Megan, Brian, Madeline, Jared, Brady, Aiofe and Fionnuala; two great grandchildren, Jameson and Lucas; three brothers, Dennis Crooker, Dana and Anne Crooker, Martin and Caroline Crooker; a sister, Tammy and Roland Lunderville; a cousin, Barry Stickney of Milford; many nieces and nephews.

Memorial visiting hours will be held on Friday, March 24th from 5:00-8:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. Black tie optional, Hawaiian shirts encouraged. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com