Joseph Crooks Obituary

Funeral services for Joseph Daward "J.D." Crooks will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Simpson First Baptist Church with Dr. Phillip Robertson and Reverend John Hebert officiating. The burial will follow in Lone Star Cemetery in Hineston under the direction of Jeane's Funeral Service. Serving as pallbearers will be A.J. Hewitt, Tristan Johnson, Jeffery Merritt, Jason Smith, Greg Pharis, Russell Wade Robinson, J.W. Rollins, and Greg Robinson. Butch Jenkins and Jayse Jeter will serve as honorary pallbearers.

A visitation will be held at Simpson First Baptist Church on Wednesday, July 9th beginning at 5:00 p.m. and will continue until the time of service on Thursday.

J.D. was born December 28, 1944, in LeCompte, Louisiana and passed away July 7, 2025, in Alexandria, Louisiana at the age of 80. Louisiana has been his home all of his life, and he lived in Poland, LA before moving to Deville, LA where he graduated from Buckeye High School. While attending high school, J.D. was an avid football player who played on the first football team from Buckeye. Since he was 14 years old, he competed in the sport of rodeo in saddle bronc, bareback, and bull riding throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas, and he held his pro rodeo card during that time. Rodeo continued to be important in his life even after his retirement at age 32, and many young rodeo contestants were blessed by his support and encouragement. For 43 years he worked as the Maintenance Director at Pinecrest State School and was of the Baptist Faith. Listening to Swamp Pop Music – especially Clint West and Tommy McClain – was one of his hobbies along with raising emus, pigs, and cows. He was the type of husband, father, and grandfather who gave his whole heart and soul to his family, and throughout their 47 years of marriage he was nearly inseparable from his wife, Phyllis. His family loved the wonderful meals shared with him and will cherish the recipes in the cookbook he created. He was their protector, and they could always count on his unconditional, constant love.

J.D. was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Doward Crooks and Lucy Roberts Crooks; in-laws, Oscar and Lois Robinson; nephew, Ken Deville; and life-long best friend, David Arnold.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 47 years, Phyllis Robinson Crooks of Hineston, LA;

daughter, Ashlee Crooks Collins (Morgan) of Simpson, LA;

grandson, Alan Joseph "A.J." Hewitt of Simpson, LA;

sisters, Linda Crooks Duplissy (Butch) of Kolin, LA and Elizabeth Nell Deville of Deville, LA;

daughter-of-the-heart, Shannon Smith;

and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

J.D.'s family extends their sincere appreciation to Cathy Robinson Carter, Kevin Carter, Amedrea Collins, Greg Robinson & family, and Cathy Pinkley for the love and support they provided to them all.