Irvin Ray Crooker

It is with great sadness that the Crooker family announces the death of Irvin Ray Crooker. Ray passed on July 7, 2021 at the age of 70 years old after a battle with a serious medical issue in recent years. Ray showed his courage and strength in facing life’s challenges with a smile.

As a lifelong resident of Boone County, KY, Ray graduated from Boone County High School, where he excelled in sports. After graduation, he served his country during the Vietnam era with the United States Army Security Agency. After he left the service, he attended and graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelors in Business.

In 1971, Ray married his High School sweetheart, Laura Howard. The two have been married for 50 years. Ray and Laura have two children, Nicole (Steve) Culman and Aaron (Karina) Crooker. Ray’s pride and joy are his 3 grandchildren, William and Emma Culman, and Gabe Crooker, whom he loved unconditionally.

Simple pleasures in life brought great joy to Ray. Ray’s mild manner and kindness were apparent to everyone who knew him. He was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Irvin and Zelma Crooker; and his siblings, John Crooker and Lena Begley.

He is survived by his loving wife, Laura Crooker (nee Howard); his children, Nicole Culman and Aaron Crooker; his sisters, Marilyn (Norman) McNabb, Carolyn Hubbard, Brenda (Jim) Vaught, Pamela Crooker, and Sandra Luebbers; and his brothers, Donald (Mari) Crooker, Michael (Brenda) Crooker, Gary (Patricia) Crooker, Kenneth (Ruth) Crooker, Bobby (Kim) Crooker, Bill (Patty) Crooker, and Marvin Crooker.

Ray also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.

Ray will be dearly missed and is forever in our hearts. The world has lost a truly exceptional human being.

Visitation will be on Monday, July 12, 2021 from 10:00AM-1:00PM at Burlington Baptist Church in Burlington, KY, where he has been a member since 1973. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 1:00PM at the church. Burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Memorial Contributions to: Emergency Shelter of NKY P.O. Box 332, Covington KY 41012 or Fairhaven Rescue Mission 260 Pike Street Covington, KY 41011.

To leave a condolence or share a memory of Ray, please visit: www.linnemannfuneralhomes.com.