Michael E Crawley's Obituary
In Loving Memory of Michael E Crawley
The family of Michael E Crawley is saddened to announce his passing on December 2, 2025, at the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville, Tennessee, at age 87.
For Michael E Crawley, loyalty and love were not just values, they were the foundation of his life. Once Mike loved you, that love was unwavering and absolute. Whether it was his devotion to God, his commitment to marriage, his dedication to family and friends, or his pride in his alma mater and fraternity, Mike’s loyalty never faltered.
Born in Greencastle, Indiana, as the only child of parents Eugene “Bud” Crawley and Mary Louise “Lou” Ray, Mike was raised to be a man of integrity, faith, and loyalty. A true Hoosier, Mike played basketball and baseball in high school and college. While at DePauw University, Mike was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and then served as an alumni advisor for many years.
Upon graduation in 1960, Mike married the love of his life, Eleanor Hobson, whom he met in second grade. Straight away, Mike started working for AT&T and this 34-year adventure took them all over the U.S., from Illinois to Wisconsin to California to Missouri to Texas. All three daughters graduated from high school in Richardson, Texas, at which point the couple moved to Denver, Colorado, and then in retirement to Savannah, Georgia, and eventually back home to Indiana. Wishing to be closer to family, Mike and Ellie moved to the Memphis area in 2019.
Friendship was sacred to Mike. His bond with his Phi Kappa Psi fraternity “brothers” lasted a lifetime, he participated in many years of family duck hunts with his sons-in-law John and Don and their sons, and his crew of golfing buddies were honored by Pinehurst for most number of consecutive years of week-long golf gatherings.
Mike’s love for his family was unmatched. From the day he married his childhood sweetheart Miss Ellie (a.k.a. Gram), who survives him, he embraced the role of husband, father, grandfather (“GP”), and great-grandfather with boundless affection. His three girls (Lisa, Dana, Amy), his four grandchildren grandfather (Asa, Darby, Alex, and Bailey), and his eight great-grandchildren (Audrey, Harper, Rory, Renly, Ridge, Eleanor, Adeline, and Hampton) each held a special place in his heart, and his devotion to them and to God defined his life’s purpose.
A memorial service is not yet planned, but son-in-law John Buford will be dedicating his December 10th jazz show “Let’s Get Lost” at 10:00 AM CST on WXYR to Mike. The show will be available in the station’s archives for four weeks; Mike would be pleased if you enjoyed listening to it at 5PM and toasting him with a martini—an evening ritual he enjoyed for many years.
What’s your fondest memory of Michael?
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Share a story where Michael's kindness touched your heart.
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