11/13/2025
Here is the Obituary and Celebration of Life Service schedule for Jerry Wayne Crayton, Sr. Many have asked to share with friends and cruise -in family.
Jerry Wavne Crayton, Sr. was born on July 7, 1940, to his parents Flovd and
Viola Cravton in their family home in Mission. He attended Ridgecrest School
from the 1st-12th grade.
After graduation from High School, he attended Auto Diesel School in
Nashville Tn. where he graduated in 1959. He returned to Stanly County and
began working at Confederate Motors in Albemarle
He went on an outing with some of his buddies to Putt Putt in Albemarle
where he met the love of his life Agnes. After meeting her, he told his buddies,
"I'm going to marry her"; which he did on February 26, 1960, in the home of
her parents, attended bv familv and friends.
He took on an Auto Mechanics teaching iob at West Stanly High School where
he taught students for 32 vears and worked in the summers alongside his
older brother Keith for his company Crayton Electric Company. After retiring
from his teaching position he was employed by TCC, Inc. in 2016 as a private
contractor to refurbish properties for the company for 7 years, until the
business was sold.
In 2003 Jerry and Agnes opened Mimi and Pop's Antique shops in Oakboro,
Salisbury and Tennessee. Because he was an avid collector of cars, it was
during this time that Jerry had a vision of starting up what he would call The
Cruise In, to take place in Oakboro, NC.
Jerry had numerous accomplishments in his life, and one of the biggest was
later in his life when he started the Oakboro Cruise In. Years earlier his dream
for the Oakboro Cruise In, not a simple car show or swap meet, but a place
and time where folks could come with their families and meet other car, truck
motorcycle and customer car enthusiast to show off their vehicle's. discuss
their dreams and ideas with each other. He wanted it to be a place where folks
could come out and enjoy good, clean small-town fun.
Since that humble beginning, Jerry's dream has turned into one of the largest
Cruise In events in the state, if not the southeast.
Because of his incredible vision and accomplishment with The Cruise ln, the Mayor of Oakboro, NC declared by proclamation on Saturday October 23 2023, that this would be "Jerry Crayton, Sr. Day" in the town to honor him as the founding father of The Oakboro Cruise In. He received a gold plaque and a commemorative wall clock with The Cruise In 20th Anniversary Logo. The Mayor, City Council and County Commissioner members were present at the presentation of these awards of recognition and appreciation.
On 11/1/2025 at 5:08am at Atrium Health Concord, NC, God called His servant, Jerry Crayton, Sr. home.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Agnes Crayton and his son Jerry Crayton, Jr.
His grandchildren, Mallory, Kyle and Madison Crayton; along with LeMond, Michael, Nathan and Chelsea. And numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Viola Crayton, Sisters Jackie Thompson and Peggy Smith, brothers Keith and Vance Crayton, and son John Crayton, and daughter in law, Tonya Crayton.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2pm at Mission Church.
