Carl E. Crawley Jr. – New Eagle

Carl E. Crawley Jr., 86, of New Eagle, was called home unexpectedly Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. He was born Jan. 14, 1939, in Monessen, the son of Carl E. and Mary Mason Crawley Sr. As a Greyhound, Carl lettered in football, basketball, track and field and volleyball. He was the main cog in Monessen’s 1956 WPIAL and PIAA state volleyball championships. Winning the state championship was very special to Carl. He graduated from Monessen in 1957. After transferring from Dayton University to California State College, Carl was second to none and still shining in baseball, basketball and football. In 1960, he was selected the Pennsylvania Conference Lineman of the Year. After college, he had tryouts with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a legend for Wheeling and then the Pittsburgh Ironmen, where he enjoyed a tremendous semi-professional career, including being named Most Valuable Player in consecutive years. Carl started his officiating career in 1967. He worked high school games for six years and became a college official in 1973. When the Big East Conference formed, Carl was the head umpire and member of the top crew. He served as a Division I referee and worked for 19 years; 14 major bowl games including two national championship games — the 1995 Orange Bowl and the 1997 Rose Bowl. In addition, he became a technical advisor and evaluator for the Big East and Atlantic 10 conferences and the past president of Big East Football Officials Association. Carl was inducted into the Mid Mon Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, the California University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Minor Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. In October 2024, he was honored at the Monessen High School Wall of Fame. Carl excelled in whatever he did. He did everything the right way. He did well in every sport because of his leadership by example and his encouraging words. He was always in charge and he was so without yelling or screaming. He just had that look and that presence about him that you knew he was in control. Carl was always about giving back to his community. He was a coach in the Monongahela Midget Football League for several years, was Joe Montana’s first football coach and officiated in-house basketball at the former Monongahela Elementary Center. He was the past president of the Rams Club, a group that helped raise money for the benefit of the Ringgold students. Carl was vice president of sales and marketing for Jones Brewing Company of Smithton, and had been with the company for nearly 40 years. He served on the board of directors of Mon-Vale Health Resources Inc., parent company of the former Monongahela Valley Hospital Inc., and was appointed to the hospital’s board of trustees in 1997. He was also past chairman of the Civil Service Commission in New Eagle, a member and trustee of the former Ebenezer Baptist Church in Monongahela and a member of the board of directors of the Mon Valley Football and Basketball Officials Association. Family was very important to Carl and he loved watching his grandson play travel baseball and football as well as watching his granddaughters dance recitals and volleyball games. One of Carl’s favorite pastimes was going to his hunting cabin, the Six Point Rod and Gun Club and spending good times with good friends. On any given day, you could walk in the back door at DeVore Hardware Store and find Carl sitting on his stool behind the counter, answering the phone, helping customers or just doing what he did best! Carl will be sadly missed, but we are better people because he was part of our lives. His legacy will live on through his family and community always. A very special thank you to the neighbors who have throughout the years shown an abundance of love and support towards the Crawley family. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sarah Jamison Crawley, with whom he celebrated 63 years of marriage on June 10, 2024; two daughters, Sherrie Garry and husband Gregory of Monongahela, and Carla “Yum” White and husband Dallas of North Versailles; grandson, Connor Garry and fiancée Megan DeBastiania; two granddaughters, Lexis White and Dallyss White; sister, Dolores “Petie” Coles and husband Gilbert of Monessen; several nieces, nephews and a host of close family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother-in-law, Ruth Arnold and Bessie and husband Bruce Hill. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at FRYE FUNERAL HOME INC., 427 W. Main St., Monongahela, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, with the Rev. Robert Holmes officiating. Interment will follow in Mon Valley Memorial Park, Donora. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.fryefuneralhome. com.