The Passing of Peggy Crooks

[Roger]

Received a phone call from Dave Holthus that Peggy Crooks, long-time member of the Arkansas Canoe Club, died from injuries received in a bicycle accident. I got to know Peggy from the activities of Rendezvous through the years and always admired her enthusiasm and energy in her approach to life.

"Peggy Crooks
By: Submitted - Sentinel-Record

Peggy Crooks, of Hot Springs, Ark., died Aug. 2, 2012, at Mercy Hospital, from injuries of a bicycle accident. She was an adventurous spirit. She was involved with caving, back-packing, hiking, paddling, motorcycling, bicycling, almost anything outdoors.......Peggy was active in the Arkansas Canoe Club, Adventure Cycling, League of American Wheelmen, Hot Springs Village Bicycling Group, Ouachita Mountain Hikers, and Volunteers in Mission of the United Methodist Church."

http://www.hotsr.com/news/2012/08/07/pe ... 184260.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cowper]

Thanks for letting us know. Looks like there will be a service this Saturday, Aug 10, for those who knew Peggy.

http://arkansasfuneralcare.com/2012/08/peggy-crooks/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For those who didn't - I'll just tell you that she was one determined lady - and just very nice to know. I'm pretty sure she was in her sixties when took up kayaking, but even if I'm wrong on that detail, I know she continued actively trying to get better at it into her sixties, and she was just one of those people with a personality that made her someone you were happy to see coming.

While of course I'm sorry to hear about this loss, I'm also happy to hear that Peggy was still out there staying active and enjoying life at 73.

[Jim Krueger]

Thank you Roger, I appreciate letting us know about Peggy. I'm pretty sure I first met Peggy through Mike Coogan in 2001 or 02, and I really enjoyed our river-side conversations about she and her husband and their life in Hot Springs. From that point on, we made several Little Missouri river trips together with the group, and she even came and joined me in several Springtime Upper Caddo trips when the water was running really well. The last couple of times I visited with, or floated with Peggy, she was accompanied by a nice lady-friend whose name I can't recall, but am thankful she was there for her. The Lower Little Missouri at a big level was about all I have ever been able to half-way enjoy without being too far over my head but Peggy made some of the same trips with grit and grace.
My condolences to Peggy's family.

Sincerely
Jim Krueger

[Jim E]

What a small world!

I learned to know David and Peggy Crooks in the 80's as I was working for the local bike shop and they lived in Texarkana for several years. They attended many cycling events and especially Peggy was always willing to volunteer in helping to make some of those events happen. She was filled with stories of week and month long tours (rides) that she had done along with other adventures.
Never knew that she paddled but am not surprised to find out that she did. Have always respected women not afraid to get out and do the things that they enjoy, even if it means being out there alone!


My condolences to her husband and family!

[Lazer]

I remember Peggy when she was learning to kayak in the mid 1990s, shortly after I got started. During one Canoe School, she was in a class led by Cowper and several of us helpers. She was enthusiastic, determined and a joy to around. By the end of the class she was surfing in Hamm's Falls and having a blast. Not many folks know, but she is the one that started my nickname during that class. After the class, a friend of hers asked how she liked it. She responded about enjoying it and learning alot and how nice and helpful everyone was "Cowper, Chris, Dennis, Jason and that Lazer guy". Only saw her a few times after that class but the times I did she always was enjoying life.

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Today’s Democrat-Gazette is carrying an obituary for a long time paddling companion of mine, Peggy Crooks, most recently of Hot Springs. Peggy passed away last Thursday as the result of a bicycling accident; I estimate that Peggy must have been in her 70s. It is ironic that I was paddling on that Thursday, helping a 13 (ish) year old young lady on her first kayaking trip. Young Mandy’s enthusiasm was very similar to the energy Peggy always gave off as we tackled some challenging Class II streams. She was always excited by the opportunity to get out on some whitewater. The first place we paddled together was at Dierks, making a downriver run, sometime in the 1980s. That may have been her first whitewater run, because afterwards she surprised me by giving me a big hug for inviting her to join the trip. We paddled together many times after that, sometimes just the two of us. She was a gentle person who took great pleasure in the outdoors; my life was richer for having known her. Below is one of the few photos I have left of Peggy, owing to a hard-drive crash a few years ago. We were paddling Gulpha Creek in Hot Springs, just a few blocks from her house.



A Memorial Service is to be held on Saturday, August 11, 2012, at the Grand Avenue Methodist Church in Hot Springs, at 10:00 a.m. Her guestbook may be signed at http://www.arkansasfuneralcare.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[Cowper]

Good photo Mike. You should print one of those off and take it to the memorial for the family to have.

[GN YAKN]

Had the pleasure of knowing Peggy through ACC events like Canoe School and Rendezvous. I think she pretty much enrolled in Canoe School about every year and was in classes with me on a couple of occassions. Sweet Sweet Lady!

[T Yamashita]

Sorry to hear about this. It was always good to see her smiling at the ACC events.
ty

[Chester]

I met her on a trip with Coogan to De Lisle Creek. We had a good time, and saw the largest Water Moccasin that day I've ever seen in AR. Think I paddled the Caddo with her once too. She was a go getter. I will look and see if I have any pics from back then.

[Lupe]

I believe Peggy was on my very first trip to Dierks when we ran the loop and then on down to the bridge. And when I say it was my very first trip to Dierks...it was really one of my very first trips anywhere! I was a skeered newbie! I'll be a pretty happy woman if I'm still paddling and as active into my golden years as she was. Her spirit for adventure and the outdoors was an inspiration. My condolences to her family and closest friends.

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Just a note about parking at the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church for the memorial service. It appears there is essentially no parking available at the church itself. There may be parking available across Grand at an office building that will probably be closed on Saturday, or three blocks east of the church also across Grand at some city offices, or on some side streets north and east of the church.

The church is at Quapaw and Grand which is about about a block west of where Grand becomes one way heading west. Pass Central Avenue if you are coming from Little Rock on Hwy. 70 (Grand Ave.) and go a few blocks more.

10:00 a.m. service

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Peggy's ashes were spread on the Caddo today, one of her favorite places to paddle. Her family is large; several grandchildren were present. Some interesting family stories were told on the shady river bank as final goodbyes were said. She was more unique than most of us, possessing an adventurous spirit throughout her life.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[Karla]

Mike, did you ever hear exactly what happened to her in the bike accident?

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

Yes, it was very sad. While riding with a group on residential streets, one bike rider turned right, but Peggy went straight and collided with the other rider. Peggy was hard of hearing and didn't hear the rider holler the turn information. She struck her head severely in the spill, severely enough to leave her without hope for recovery.

I have always considered most bicycle helmets to appear inadequate, constructed more with fashion in mind than protection, but I'm sure they all pass some certification. I personally intend to look for a better biking helmet than what is typically worn on the street. BMX and downhill bicycle racing helmets are designed to higher specs than street helmets and cover more of a cyclist's head; that's probably the way to go.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan