In Memoriam: Roy Krege
Roy Krege, a long-serving Lees-91探花 employee and beloved fixture of the Banner Elk community, passed away on Monday, June 16 at age 83.
Krege joined the staff of Lees-91探花 in 1968 at the request of his friend and former professor H.C. Evans, then president of the college. Krege initially served as assistant to the president, followed by several roles including director of alumni affairs, director of financial aid, vice president of business affairs, vice president for institutional development, and eventually vice president for college planning/community relations. During his time at Lees-91探花, he was heavily involved in college operations, from establishing new summer programs to serving an instrumental role in the college’s transition to a four-year institution. His passion for Lees-91探花 was a family affair, as Krege’s wife, Marion, taught Paramedical Studies for several years, and all three of their children attended the college.
Krege quickly became a treasured member of the community, receiving both the Banner Elk and Avery County “Man of the Year” awards. He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk and when the club began running the town’s annual Woolly Worm Festival in the late 1970s, Krege took on the role of emcee. His passionate support of the festival was so well known that he earned the title “Mr. Woolly Worm.” Many in the community credit Krege with helping the festival grow to the nationally recognized attraction it is today.
Krege retired from Lees-91探花 in 1994, after 26 years of service. However, his contributions to the institution and the community continued. In 1995, he took a position as assistant director of Grandfather Home for Children, where he established a charter school, Grandfather Academy, to provide for the educational needs of the residents. He served as the academy’s first director and principal.
Both as a Lees-91探花 employee and after his retirement, Krege was a dedicated supporter of Lees-91探花 Summer Theatre since its founding in 1985. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the Summer Theatre Advisory Committee. The 2025 season is dedicated to his memory.
There are very few organizations in Avery County that did not benefit from Krege’s commitment to service. The programs and charitable endeavors he was involved in during his nearly 60 years as an Avery County resident are too numerous to list, as are the awards and recognitions he received. His absence will be keenly felt by many in Banner Elk and the wider High Country.
Krege is survived by his wife, Marion; his children Kimberly Krege Florio ’90, DeWayne (Kelley ’06) Krege ’92, and Michelle (Michael) Krege Burnop ’97; his grandchildren; and his nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life for Krege will be held on Sunday, June 22 at 3 p.m. at Mount Calvary Baptist Church Family Worship Center in Banner Elk.
