Obituary

T.M. Ashcraft, 72, of Granbury, Texas, died at his home on Oct. 27, 2024, after battling cancer.

T.M. was born in Newton on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952, to Glenn H. Ashcraft Sr. and Dorothy Miller Ashcraft.

At the age of 19, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Cathie Collier. T.M. and Cathie moved from Kansas to Mississippi in 1974, where they went on to raise their children, Brandon and Raegan. Partners in life and business, T.M. and Cathie began their three-decade career as restaurateurs with Pizza Hut and went on to open several restaurants and build a successful catering business. T.M. also served as president of the Mississippi Restaurant Association. In the final chapter of his adventure in the hospitality industry, T.M., along with Cathie and life-long friend Steve Mattison, grew Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix into a national brand. T.M. and Cathie eventually moved to Granbury, where they would later retire.

T.M. was a devoted Episcopalian and cherished the friends he made at parishes from Kansas to Mississippi to Texas. He served God and these communities faithfully by singing in the choir, serving on the vestry and reading scripture in worship. He enjoyed collecting antique cars, was a formidable Jeopardy player and relished competitive family games of Contract Rummy. He was an enthusiastic participant in NASCAR fantasy leagues and, near the end of his life, was known as the ?Wordle King of 2s? in a daily text chain with several family members.

T.M. was the consummate hospitality professional because he cherished life and knew no greater joy than making memories with family and friends over good food and drink. He will be remembered for his generous, kind and jovial spirit. His capacity to love was as large as his personality, and he made friends wherever he went.

T.M. is survived by his wife, Cathie; his children, Brandon Ashcraft (Bob Vroman) and Raegan Ashcraft (Michael Tyndall); brothers, Butch, Junior (Susie), Mike (Amy) and Pat (Connie); brother-in-law, Vince (Deb) Collier; his mother-in-law, Jerry Collier; and several great-nephews, great-nieces, great-grandnieces and a great-grandnephew.

In addition to his parents, T.M. was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Chuck Collier, and sister-in-law, Cheryl Ashcraft.

A funeral service will take place at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Granbury at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, followed by a reception to celebrate his life in the parish hall. T.M. will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in T.M.?s memory to either the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children?s Research Hospital.

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