Marine Vet Mikey Crooks Dies at 51

Michael “Mikey” Crooks, a 51-year-old who retired as a staff sergeant in the Marines, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 at his Powder Springs home in arms of his loving wife of 17 years, Kathy F. Crooks.

The family will receive friends at the West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory on Friday, Nov. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Born in Painesville, OH, Mr. Crooks moved to Georgia in 1998 from Beaufort, SC. He was a graduate of Mentor High School in Mentor, OH, where he lettered in baseball.

After graduation, he joined the U.S. Marines Corps. He served with honor at sea and at several bases in the U.S. and overseas, most memorably at Beaufort MCAS in Beaufort, SC.

He retired after 20 years at NAS Atlanta in Georgia. After retiring from the Marines, Mike joined the civilian work force and had been happily employed at Hawker-Beechcraft prior to his death.

He was a die-hard Cleveland Browns and Indians fan. No matter how bad the season, he would be right there rooting for them the next year. He enjoyed working and playing in his yard with his best canine girls, Patsy, Jessi and Maggi while listening to rock 'n' roll.

He was diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in the spring 2012. The family would like to express a special thank you to the wonderful people of the Longleaf Hospice, Bethesda Family Practice and Georgia Cancer of Austell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas John Crooks and Marjorie C. Crooks Friend.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy F. Crooks; daughter, Libby McLeod of Buffalo, NY; son, Michael Crooks of Beaufort, SC; grandson, Aiden McLeod; siblings, Christine (Ed) Crooks-Serfass of Willowick, OH, Dawn (Harvey) Crooks-Wall, Timmy Crooks and Linda Friend; sister-in-law, Antoinette Londergan; brother-in-law, Kelly Reidy; five nephews; four nieces; seven great-nephews and seven great-nieces.

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