Burnie Crabtree

Burnie Roger Crabtree, 78, of Wayne, WV passed away Sunday, June 15, 2025 at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington, WV, after a long illness. Roger was born January 17, 1947 in Huntington, WV, a son of the late Bernie Beecher and Nannie Asbury Crabtree. He grew up in East Lynn, WV and was an avid coonhunter as a young man. He was a lifelong baseball fanatic and supporter of the Cincinnati Reds, even riding the train to Cincinnati by himself as a child to see a game. Roger played Little League baseball and was a catcher for the Wayne Pioneers where he graduated in 1964. He later attended Marshall University and graduated with an education degree. Roger worked at the Neal Plant (now Braskem) for over forty years until retirement. He was elected to four terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates and two terms as the Sheriff of Wayne County. Roger was also a fifty-year member of the Wayne No. 18 A.F. & A.M. and the Wayne No. 18 RAM. He is survived by his wife Paula Hope Nelson Crabtree of Wayne; a daughter, Anita Thompson (Bobby) of East Lynn; granddaughter, Stephanie White (Derrick); grandson, Robert Thompson (Rebecca); two very special great grandsons, Griffin and Reece White; a sister, Sally Whitt (Rod); a nephew, Alex Whitt (Melanie); a niece, Amy Westcott (Scott); his mother-in-law, Joyce Nelson; and numerous cousins and friends. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Morris Funeral Home Chapel, Wayne with Elder George Nelson and Bro. Jack Nelson officiating. Burial will follow in Asbury Cemetery, East Lynn. Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. until service time at Morris Funeral Home, Wayne.