Ruth (Riley) Crockett

Ruth Crockett, nee Riley, age 91, born in North Muskegon, MI and longtime resident of Lake Forest, passed away September 22, 2022.  Beloved wife of the late John David; loving mother of Megan C. (Jay) Miles, Jaime R. (Lisa) Crockett and Mark D. (Irene) Crockett; cherished grandmother of Jordan and Naomi Miles, Jacob, Connor and Olivia Crockett and step grandmother of Drew, Cody and Evan Tucker; dearest sister of Marybelle (the late Alex) Suczek and the late Eloise (the late Jack) Barclay; fond aunt of many.

Dr. Crockett, a psychologist, earned her Bachelor’s from Wheaton College and her PhD from Loyola University and taught Spanish and music in Minnesota for 20 years prior to working as a therapist for the NorthShore Center for Counseling in Northbrook for 40 years.

My mom Ruth Crockett passed away late in the evening on 9.22.22 at the age of 91.  Ruth’s independence, enthusiasm and determination were her character trademarks.  It was not uncommon for my brothers and I to hear, “Your mom is really something,” or “she changed our lives”, or “How do you keep up with her?” Energetic, stubborn, intelligent and creative, she was a force to be reckoned with.  She was a woman ahead of her time earning her Bachelor’s in Music Performance for the Pipe Organ and Music education in 1953 from Wheaton College.  She taught Spanish and music in the Minnesota public school system for 20 years before moving with her family to Illinois where she earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University.  She practiced individual and family counseling for 40 years in Northbrook before retiring at age 90.  My brother Mark said it well when he said that our mom believed that people should follow the rules, when the rules make sense, at that particular moment, but that they should be broken when needed in order to help those around you.  Helping others was the most important thing in the world to her and she had limitless empathy for others.  She opened her heart and her home to dozens of people that needed a place to stay or a surrogate family for a time, (some for a significant length of time).  Our driveway was a parking lot and we never knew who would be staying with our family or for how long.  She was a creative therapist, helping so very many people to see the world in a different way.  

As a working mom, she was a model and a mentor to me; teaching me to love the Lord, free myself from the expectations of others, and to embrace some chaos in my home and life in order to make everything work.  Her energy was amazing, and she never let age slow her down; a paintball party for her 70th birthday, climbing trees in Kentucky at 80, and traveling to Costa Rica and The Great Wall of China with her sister in her late 80’s.  She deeply impacted the lives of many individuals and family systems.  She sprinted to the end of her life until her body just couldn’t keep up.  She embodied mercy over justice, and her patience and compassion for the unique differences of others (particularly those with significant mental illness) was remarkable.  She was an integral part of our lives and she will be sorely missed.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, November 5th, 11:00 a.m. at The Village Church of Lincolnshire, 201 Riverwoods Rd., Lake Forest, IL 60045.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Village Church of Lincolnshire or Marantha Bible Conference, 4759 Lake Harbor Road, Norton Shores, MI 49441.

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