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William “Honest Bill” Crook III, of Frisco, North Carolina, passed away on Monday, April 29, 2024 shortly after midnight.

Bill was born on February 21, 1950 in Memphis, Tennessee to parents Aljean Weeks Crook and William Guy Crook Jr. After graduating high school, Bill attended Arkansas State University.

Bill could best be described as a troubadour: lyricist, traveler, poet, and storyteller; just as at home in front of music royalty, (Memphis and Nashville), as he was with the common folk sitting next to him on a bar stool. His travels and his Martin guitar took him far and wide, from oil rigs in the Gulf to honky-tonks in Memphis, never settling in one place too long. One such journey took him to a yet unknown destination, the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There he would finally settle, still a troubadour without the wandering.

In September of 1994 while performing at the Hatteras Civic Center, he found an audience of one in the crowd, the person that would become his wife, Jeannie. Driving home on the day of their wedding on the beach, he would say, “I finally feel like I belong somewhere.” Those who were his friends and family, and even complete strangers, felt that they belonged to him. He created that space around him with his wit, his stories, humor and music.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Aljean and William Jr. He is survived by his wife, Jeannie Crook of Frisco, NC; sisters, Libby Wuestenberg (Ron) and Carolyn Caldwell (Frank); stepdaughters, Dara Dawson and Paula Salladay (Chad); stepson, Matthew Cox (Marcella); grandchildren, Charlotte and Lindsay (Dara), Trevor (Paula), and Mareena (Matthew), as well as many friends far and wide.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.

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