Robert Bruce Crawley

Robert Bruce Crawley, 61, of Morganton, NC entered the pearly gates and met his Savior on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Born on March 21, 1963, in Philadelphia, PA he was the son of the late Albert Crawley Jr. and Anna Marie Crawley Miller.

Those left to cherish Robert’s memory are his fiancé, Teresa Hamrick; sisters, Terri Waters and Karen Wright (Tom); nephews, Jeremy Wright (Kristen) and Donovan Flanders; nieces, Kim Lyle (Scott), Jennifer Miller (Matt), Kristen Johnson (Chase), and Cierra Meadors (Shaedon); great nephews, Luke, James, Waylon, and Leo; great nieces, Lila, Maddie Mae, Emma, Brynlee, Layken, and Baby Girl Meadors; and numerous uncles, aunts, and special cousins.

In addition to his parents Robert is preceded in death by his stepfather, James Floyd Miller.

Robert moved to Morganton, NC when he was very young from Philadelphia and quickly became a huge part of the Morganton community.

At a young age he enjoyed riding bicycles, dirt bikes, and motorcycles with his childhood friends. No challenge was too great for him. He dived into the sports arena developing a love for baseball and his major passion football, playing from a very early age for Coach Jug Wilson at Glen Alpine Elementary. There Jug Wilson instilled in Robert the passion for football. There was no teacher or coach in his life that escaped his charm and personality.

Robert was known as Bobby to his family until he insisted on being “Robert.” Bobby loved his Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church family where he started attending in his elementary school years and where his love for his Lord strengthened. Bobby lost his father at the young age of 13 but was blessed with a loving stepfather afterwards who instilled a deep love for go-kart racing and NASCAR. Bobby was also blessed with two sisters who he formed an incredible bond.

Bobby was introduced to the love of his life, Teresa Hamrick, by the first love of his life, his mother, Anna Marie Miller. Robert maintained that love for his “Snookums”, Teresa, until he walked through the pearly gates and is awaiting her arrival.

Bobby excelled as an athlete and loved the game of football. His coaches, Jug Wilson, Johnny Anderson, and Pete Stout were his heroes. They encouraged him to begin his own coaching career, beginning with Oak Hill school and then moving to Freedom High School. For a short time, Coach Crawley coached at East Burke High School and Patton High School. He had a very unique old school way of coaching, however, that style developed love and lifetime friendships with his players. Moon pies and RC Colas were magic to him and used as a reward for his players. Coach Crawley maintained those relationships throughout his life, even messaging some of them the day before he took his last breath. He was never afraid to tell his players how much he loved them.

Aside from coaching, there was nothing more that he loved than his family. Whether it was spent at home, at the pool, at the lake, at the station, or at the racetrack, he was with family. His encouragement, love, and love of life is what encouraged his sisters, nieces, and nephews to live their best life. Robert’s passion for music sent thousands of CDs and YouTube videos to all his family and friends. Music was a huge part of his life. The Elk’s Lodge in Morganton and the love he had for the veterans of our country was of huge importance to him. He held various positions at the Elk’s Lodge and never failed to participate in organizational functions. He travelled with the Elk’s Lodge to the VA to assist with “mater and mayonnaise sandwiches”, pizza parties, and Christmas parties for the veterans. Bobby also worked with his sister, Terri, in her position with the VA. Bobby helped a veteran move when he had no one to help, called veterans to check on them, and raised money for a funeral of a veteran that had no family.

Services for Robert will be held Monday, January 20, 2025, at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church at 2:00 PM with Revs. Rich Irwin and Keith Burkhart officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM prior to the service. Committal will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery following the service. The family request that in honor of Coach Crawley, you wear Freedom apparel or Freedom colors of red, white, and blue to his service.

The legendary Coach Robert “Bobby” Crawley’s absence will be felt by his “Snookums”, Teresa, his remaining entire family, his friends, his players, his fellow coaches, and the Morganton community.

Memorial contributions may be made to Freedom High School Football Program, 511 Independence Blvd., Morganton, NC 28655, Freedom High School Baseball Home Run Club in support of his nephews Luke and James Miller, 154 Stephens Rd., Morganton, NC 28655, or Little John United Methodist Church, PO Box 447, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.