Shirley Evelyn Crooke

Shirley Evelyn Crooke, 93, was born Nov. 2, 1926, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Glenn C. Jackson and Adeline McManus Jackson. She passed away peacefully in her sleep in Sun City, Arizona on March 12, 2020. She is survived by a sister, June Strub, of Springfield, Missouri, sons Brian Binger (Elizabeth Hoffman) of Ames, Iowa, Eric Binger of Sierra Vista, Arizona and daughter Janet Farasyn (Richard) of Loveland, Colorado, as well as three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and ten nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, husbands, and brother, Eugene Jackson.

Shirley’s parents were both deaf and communicated in American Sign Language (ASL). Consequently, Shirley’s first language was ASL. She frequently served as her parents’ translators for much of their lives. She was also active in the ASL community, working as an ASL interpreter until she was almost 90 years old.

Shirley grew up in Charles City, Iowa and met her first husband and father of her children, Robert (Bob) Binger, in high school. (Bob’s father was Kermit Binger, Chief of Police in Charles City, 1950-1966.) After marriage, she and Bob lived in West Point, NY, where Bob served in the Army and she worked as secretary to the West Point athletic director. They returned to Charles City, where she worked as an executive assistant at the Oliver Corporation. In December 1962 Shirley, Bob, and their three children moved to Marshall, Minnesota, where she was active in the First Lutheran Church of Marshall and Bob built Marshall Salvage, a well-regarded auto and truck parts company. She was also active in the local League of Women Voters.

She and Bob retired to Sun City, Arizona in 1988. Bob died of a heart attack in 1992. She subsequently met and married Wesley Cato. Wes died of lymphoma in 1999. She then met Donald Crooke. They were married until Don died in 2018 at the age of 95. She and Don had already moved into The Woodmark at Sun City, a senior living community, where they both passed.

For much of the 30 plus years she lived in Sun City, she worked as an ASL interpreter. She attended college classes with deaf students, accompanied deaf patients to doctors’ appointments, interpreted often at church events, and was otherwise on call to assist with ASL interpretation. During her marriage to Don Crooke she worked behind the scenes at his many theater and music performances.

Memorial service arrangements are pending. Interment will be at the columbarium at the Lakeview United Methodist Church in Sun City, Arizona.