Joann Betty Crocker

Joann Crocker of Belleview, Mo., departed this life on Oct. 25, 2022, at the age of 84. Born Oct. 29, 1937, in Goodland, Mo., she was the seventh of thirteen children of the late Tony Otto and Ethel Ann (Rencehausen) Goggin. On October 14, 1956, she was united in marriage to Gene Crocker. The couple built their home and farmed on Ottery Creek, where they spent their married life. Joann and Gene loved children and were second parents – and second grandparents – to several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gene; her brothers James, Paul, Robert and Jerry Goggin; sisters Mildred Giles, Opal Bell, Shirley Crocker, Doris Wingerter, Francis Lincoln and Carol Shy; and several nieces and nephews, including her most-cherished nephew, Kevin Shy. She is survived by her sisters Ruby Miner and Donna Mills and many nieces and nephews. The Bible says, “There are some people put on earth to help others.” That was Joann: the caretaker. She was always the first to lend a hand – the first one we called if we needed help. She answered the call to look after her younger siblings as a young adult herself. She answered the call to look after an older sister even as she, herself, became ill. And in between, she cared for so many of her family: the young, the old, the healthy, the sick. From meeting the school bus to cheering in the stands to helping with the construction of a home, Joann was there for so many of her nieces and nephews and their children. Joann cared for the final resting places of her family members, working countless hours in the Ottery Cemetery, often alone, making sure all her loved ones’ gravesites were well-kept and had flowers. Even though mathematically she was the middle child, Joann was the leader of her Goggin family, earning her the nickname “the boss.” So, accepting help from others was never easy, not even when she needed it the most. Having Joann as a sister or aunt was truly a gift. And she lived to give. Birthdays, graduations, weddings, holidays and more were remembered and celebrated with cards. Birthday cards, in particular, were special. Year after year, each card included dollars for the young and a chance for big dollars for the rest of us with Missouri Lottery scratch-offs. Even more disappointing than not winning, though, was telling Joann that the ticket was a bust. For Joann, a trip to the casino meant a break from the hard work of keeping an immaculate house, maintaining a farm and being a rock of support for her family. She and Gene enjoyed several trips to casinos in Tunica, Miss., and eastern Oklahoma. And with several of her sisters, a trip through the Badlands to casinos in Deadwood, S.D., was an especially memorable one. But for many of us, it was trips to casinos in St. Louis followed by an afternoon lunch that made a regular Tuesday a special day with our sister or aunt. And when Joann won a little, she shared a lot. She always did. Just like she always had. For those in her family, especially the ones she leaves behind, are the lucky ones: a lifetime of love and caring. We loved her dearly and will always cherish her memory. Memorials may be made to the Ottery Cemetery Association.