Robert Craig Hunter

Mr. Robert Craig Hunter, 48, of Mount Airy, went home to be with Jesus on Monday afternoon, January 13, 2014. Craig was born in July of 1965, in Asheville, to Bob and Kay Hunter. Craig was married to his high-school sweetheart, Michele Martin Hunter, in July of 1987, and they were blessed with four children, CJ (22), Gaines (20), Worth (18), and Mary Grace (16). Craig was predeceased by his father, Robert Carter Hunter; and his grandparents, Guy "Pop" and Fannie "Nan" Wall. Craig is survived by his mother; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Guy and Lee Hunter and Doug and Joni Hunter; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bob and Kay Martin; a brother-in-law and his wife, Kevin and Tish Martin; a sister-in-law and her husband, Robin and Kevin Shore; two nieces, Olivia Hunter and Avery Martin; and six nephews, Wes Hunter, Jay Hunter, Cameron Shore, Scott Shore, Tristen Shore, and Jackson Martin. Craig was a graduate of Mount Airy High School and received his Associate of Applied Agriculture degree from North Carolina State University in 1986. As Craig finished his degree, he was fortunate to meet Ed Bailey, a lifelong mentor and "coach," who taught him the foundations of commercial real estate and helped ground in him a love for development and a strong work ethic, supported by his faith, family values, and a desire to give back to his community. Craig worked with Ed Bailey at Commercial Associates until joining Granite Development in 1992, where he remained until the onset of his ALS prevented him from continuing to work at the pace he loved. Craig was a graduate of the North Carolina Realtors Institute (GRI) and a licensed real estate broker. He was a member of the North Carolina Association of Realtors, Surry County Association of Realtors, Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM - Chapter 56), and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Craig was a past member of the Mount Airy Jaycees, the Mount Airy Sunrise Rotary, a past board member of the Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, a past chairman and board member of Surry County Economic Development Partnership, a past trustee on the board for Northern Hospital of Surry County, a Surry County Commissioner (elected in 2002, he served as a member and chairman over two terms until December 2010), past board member of The Shepherd's House Homeless Shelter, past adult committee member and volunteer leader for Young Life of Surry County, volunteer with Franklin Youth Foundation as baseball and basketball coach, volunteer baseball coach at Mount Airy High School, and a member of Jefferson Church of Christ. Craig loved his family, his friends, and his community and believed in giving of himself to strive to make life better for others. Upon his diagnosis, Craig was quoted as saying, "I can't wait to hang out with Jesus. I know he looks at me and laughs at some of the goofy stuff I do. Jesus wants his favorite goofball closer to him, and walking down amen corner at Augusta National (my personal picture of heaven) in a two-some with Jesus will be awesome. I will miss my family, friends, and numerous relationships and fun times, but that is all temporary, and I will have everyone I care about and love right with me one day at our eternal home." Craig's family will receive friends at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy on Wednesday evening, January 15, 2014, beginning at 6:00 PM, and they will celebrate his life in a service at First Baptist Church in Mount Airy on Thursday, January 16, 2014, at 11:00 AM. Following the service, Craig will be buried at Mountain View Baptist in Lowgap. Craig was always the ultimate fan of so many kids in our community. He gave his time and energy to lift them up and pray for them and encourage them in so many ways. To this end, his family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Young Life of Surry County, P.O. Box 327, Mount Airy, NC 27030.