Robert LeRoy Crumley

Robert (Bob) LeRoy Crumley passed away peacefully on August 11, 2019 at his Metairie home with his loving wife at his side. Robert was born in Bronx, New York to LeRoy and Viola Crumley. Soon after the outbreak of WW II, Bob enlisted with the U.S. Army Air Corps, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant by the end of the war. After the war, he became an insurance claims adjustor, working for General Adjustment Bureau in New York, before moving to Florida and taking a position with State Farm Insurance, from which he later retired. After retirement, he moved to Ellijay, GA and began working as an independent catastrophe claims adjustor, settling claims for homeowners across the southeast and along the east coast in localities ravaged by hurricanes and other natural disasters. During one such claim in Metairie, LA, Bob met his true love, Sera Seiler. Not long after, Bob and Sera were married, and New Orleans became his permanent home. Bob always had a positive outlook, and an undefeatable sense of humor. His charisma and good nature were felt by all those he encountered. He had a long happy, active and productive life, and despite several serious health issues and setbacks, was never deterred, and never stopped enjoying life. Right to the end his motto was “when you get lemons, make lemonade”!

Bob loved New Orleans and jazz music, the French Quarter and especially Preservation Hall. He embraced the Mardi Gras culture, attending parades whenever possible to collect doubloons, which he would trade with friends and others at “swap meets”. He eventually accumulated a large and very special doubloon collection. Bob was also an avid coin collector and had a passionate interest in coin operated novelties. He bought, restored, sold and traded a myriad of interesting coin operated items, including slot machines, coke machines, skee ball machines, pinball machines, juke boxes and pay phones, just to name a few. Bob corresponded and became friends with many others across the country who had similar interests. There was also an extensive collection of die cast scale model cars accumulated over 30 years, particularly focused on the early age of the automobile from the 1920’s through the early ‘50’s.

Bob was a loving husband to Sera Seiler Crumley for 34 years. Survivors include his son Stephen Crumley (Linda); two grandchildren, Jeremy Crumley (Stefani) and Rebecca Crumley (Mike); Linda’s daughter, April Shaffer (Bret), whom he thought of as his third grandchild: two great grandchildren, Abigayle and Chase Crumley and April’s son Clark, who would be his great, great grandson. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Crumley. A very special thanks to good friend Tara Celestin, and caregivers, Kay Lawrence, Patrice Adams and Ann Bell, and Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care.

A private memorial will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to the Neptune Society of New Orleans.