Mr. Thomas Daniel Croat, 65, of Gastonia, NC, passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Memorial service will be 12:00 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2025 at M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 209 N. Main St., Clover, SC.  The family will receive friends from 11:00 to 12:00 Saturday before the service.

Mr. Croat was born February 27, 1960 in Council Bluff, Iowa to the late Francis Raymond and Georgia Emma Hodapp Croat.  At a very young age, Thomas and his family moved to Granville, Iowa where he began attending Catholic school.  In 1969, Thomas and his family again hit the trail when they moved to Onamia, Minnesota, where Thomas would graduate in 1978. 

Upon graduation, Thomas “Tom” proudly enlisted and served in The United States Army from 1978 to 1981.  Tom was an incredibly talented chef, known for his passion in the kitchen and his love of creating meals that brought people together.  Whether he was serving his fellow countrymen, crafting a new dish or sharing one of his mother’s old family favorites, Tom’s food was his way of showing love.  He found great joy in feeding others, and even more in the conversations that followed around the table. 

Family meant everything to Tom.  His home was filled with photographs, a testament to the people he loved most: his mother and father, his brothers, his sister, each of his “favorite” nieces and nephews, and all those he considered family.  Tom had a warm heart, a generous spirit, and a deep appreciation for life’s simple joys.  He especially loved cheering on his favorite teams, the Minnesota Vikings, Golden Gophers, and Minnesota Twins, often gathering with friends to enjoy the game, good food, all while making others laugh.  No one was a stranger to Tom.

He is survived by his sister Rose Felix (Box Felix); brothers Steve Croat, Ken Croat (Deborah Croat), Allen Croat (Cindy Croat), Dean Croat (Melissa Gaulrapp), Pete Croat; sister-in-law Lisa Croat; and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Georgia Emma Hodapp Croat, father, Francis Raymond Croat, and a brother, Paul Daniel Croat.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials to be made to a local food pantry in Clover, SC, The Clover Area Assistance Center, P. O. Box 521, Clover, SC 29710 www.cloverareaassistance.org, a fitting tribute to a man who fed so many with love.

M. L. Ford & Sons Funeral Home, Clover, SC is serving the family of Mr. Croat.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.