William David Crooke, known to all as Billy, passed away at the South West Acute Hospital on the night of April 12, 2021 after a sudden illness. He was 83 years old.

Billy was born on April 26, 1937, elder son of William Parke Crooke and Lily Crooke (nee Donaldson) of The Rocks, Blaney, Enniskillen. His younger brother George predeceased him in 2013. He is survived by his wife Carol, daughters Victoria (Kevin) and Jane (Daniel), and grandchildren Caoimhe, William, Caitlin and Charlotte.

Billy had a great love of sport and in his younger days was very active in both motor rallying and water skiing at competitive levels. He was an active member of Enniskillen Golf Club for over 40 years where he held the position of Captain in 2005.

Billy held various posts within the Ministry of Agriculture in Fermanagh and Tyrone before his retirement in 1997. He loved working with the local farming community to ensure that the waterways of Fermanagh were well maintained and he was delighted with the success of the Shannon-Erne Waterway project.

He was a member of many organisations throughout his lifetime, including the Royal Observer Corps – 31 Group Royal Observer Corps Association - and Probus. He was a very active member of the local Masonic Lodge - the Enniskillen Royal Arch Chapter – where he was elected to the post of Ex-King in 1982 and from which he received the Honorary rank of Past District Grand Chief Scribe in 2008.

He was a true Fermanagh man, the county within which he lived and worked all his life. He married Carol Elliott of Gortatole in 1962 and they set up home in Ballinamallard where they lived, raising their family before moving to Enniskillen in their retirement.

The funeral service was held at the family church, Darling Street Methodist. It was led by Rev. Lorna Dreaning. Billy was laid to rest in a Crooke family plot at Inishmacsaint Parish Church.

The funeral arrangements were by Funeral Directors, Austen Stinson, W.T. Morrison, Enniskillen. Donations, in lieu, were to Chest, Heart & Stroke Association.