Obituaries

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Barbara Ann (Crooks) Jackson was born to Mary Belle and Kent Crooks
on August 18, 1932, in Aspinwall (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania. She passed
away on April 17, 2025, in Westlake, Ohio. Barbara’s parents encouraged
Barbara at the age of 3 to begin learning the piano and indulging in the
gift of music. Barbara continued to pursue her love of music and piano by
attending the music conservatory at Oberlin College, where she received
her Bachelors of Music. She enjoyed the creative atmosphere on campus.
Barbara met her husband, Jim, on a blind date when her room
-mate at
Oberlin College was dating one of Jim’s friends. They were married in 1955
after graduating from their respective colleges.
Upon marrying, Barbara and Jim moved to Columbus, Ohio, and they
each began their careers. Barbara was a music teacher in a public
school where she shared her passion and skill in music. In 1957, when
David came along, she chose to stay at home with him; Susan and Nancy
came along in 1959 and 1961 respectively.
Barbara began teaching piano lessons in her home to share her talent
and encourage different age groups to love music. She continued to play
the piano for her own enjoyment and for others and accompanied
numerous musicians and music groups over the years. She was involved
with and played for several Musical Arts groups when she and Jim lived in
Dallas, Texas. As a long
-time member of Canyon Creek Presbyterian
Church in Richardson, Texas, she also sang in the choir for years with Jim
and volunteered in several music ministries to accompany a group or
arrange a piece of music. Barbara continued to challenge herself
musically well into her upper 80s by learning a difficult piece of music. She
offered her musical gift in the independent living facility where she most
recently lived in Westlake, Ohio, by playing for the weekly on
-site Catholic
Mass. She played for them within weeks of her death.
Barbara was a deep thinker and found her music to be a spiritual
experience. She said it made her feel closer to God. She was private
about her faith but on occasion would share deep insights about her view
of God in her and others’ life.
Though music perhaps Barbara’s main passion, she was also gifted at
sewing, quilting, and stained glass. She was unafraid of trying new
avenues to express and challenge herself. However, she was a
perfectionist so was not always happy with what she created. Family
members and friends have been blessed over the years with many of her
creations.
Barbara will be remembered and missed for generously sharing her
creative gifts for the joy of others as well as for her kind and sensitive spirit.
She is survived by her three children, David (Joan) Jackson, Susan (Chuck)
Rozek, and Nancy (Paul) Davis, along with three grandchildren and seven
great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary Belle
and Kent Crooks, and her sister, Beverly Stahly.