This Is the Story of Ray Crook, "Just a Preacher" and the Many Hats He Wore
by Darlene Hopkins
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The hat he was hired to wear at Southside in 1970 was to just preach and teach the Word, so on those days he wore his preaching hat. With this hat, he taught many people the Word of God and many souls were saved.
On Tuesday, he would wear his hat of director, song leader, teacher, photographer, and playmate. For on this day he was the director of Tuesday School, for 20 years, lead songs for assembly, he taught class sometimes, he was a playmate and friend to every child in Tuesday School. On Wednesday, he was a Ladies' Bible Class Teacher, so he wore his teaching hat again. Also on Wednesday or sometimes Thursday, he was a printer for our church bulletin, color sheets for Bible class, gospel meeting flyers, youth rally ads, note pads, etc. So on those days he wore a printer's hat. He wore his teacher's hat on Wednesday night for Bible class and was always on stand by for devotional talks. On Friday and Saturday, which was suppose to be his days off, which he rarely took, he wore his fishing cap. He wished!!! But on all the days of the week, he wore many other hats. He wore the hat of plumber, for with all the restrooms and a kitchen at Southside, there was always something he could do to save calling out a plumber. He also wore a repairman hat for cleaning the ice machine, typewriters, printing machine, laminator, overhead projector, opaque machine, copier, and many other pieces of equipment. Then there were the days he wore his counselor and advisor hat. Not only did he wear them in the day time, but also at all hours of the night time. He wore the hat of hospital chaplain. The many hours he spent sitting with us while family members were having surgery or dying or just very ill. There is also the hat of a driver for trips, such as retreats, camps, youth rallies, 49er's fellowship, mission trips, buying church and office supplies, and driving cancer patients for their treatments in Fort Worth. He wore, many times, the hat of an entertainer, that is, planning fellowships for members leaving, Tuesday school fellowships, 49'ers fellowships, 5th Sunday and Wednesday nights, Gospel meetings, etc… It really didn't have to be anything special for Ray to plan a fellowship. We must not forget the many times he wore his funeral hat, eldership hat, cook's hat, peacemaker's hat. The hat he wore with much love was the hat of a friend. Ray has been a friend to every member of Southside for 25 years. We hope he will continue to be that special friend you could go to in time of need or just for a cup of coffee or a Coke. He wore the hat of listener. He would just sit and listen to you without having to give advice or say anything. One hat he really enjoys wearing is his fishing hat. He didn't get to wear it as often as he would have liked, but we hope that will change. While wearing his fishing hat, he also wore his counselor's hat, his preacher's hat, his listener's hat and the fishers of men hat. He has worn the hat of a writer for newspaper and radio spots. He has been known to even wear the hat of a carpenter. A hat he has worn for the last 14 years is the hat of a wonderful, patient, kind and understanding boss. He wears the hat of a wonderful husband to Reta and father's hat to Steve, Jay, and Russell. He also wears his father-in-law hat for his daughters-in-law. With great pride and joy, he wears his grandpa's hat for his grandchildren. Even though you were hired to just wear the hat of a preacher, we are all very thankful for the many other hats you have worn while doing the Lord's work at Southside. We hope you will continue to wear the hat of our friend, but we hope you get to wear your fisherman's hat more than ever, now that you have retired.
Written with much admiration and love to Ray
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On Sundays, he taught morning Bible Class, preached a sermon in the morning and in the evening. Also, on some Sundays, he wore the hat of a youth minister having devotionals for our youth.