Obituary of Clarence Wilfred Croft C.D.

Age 91 Halifax, NS, formerly of Sherbrooke, NS.  Born in 1925 in St. Mary’s River, NS, he was the son of the late Howard and Bessie [Fernandez] Croft.  He was employed 31 years in Halifax with Swift Canadian Company as Warehouse Superintendent and Sales Representative.  At age 16, Clarence enlisted in the Canadian Army Infantry Corp, serving for two years as Instructor and two years on the Regimental Police.  After the War, he served for 13 years in the Militia and was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration while serving as Warrant Officer with the Princess Louise Fusiliers.  He was a life member of Branch 56, Sherbrooke Royal Canadian Legion and served as secretary, treasure and president.  When he retired and moved back to Sherbrooke, he served as manager of Maple Manor Seniors Complex in Sherbrooke for four years and also served as fund raising chairman with the Canadian Cancer Society, District of St. Mary’s.  He was a former member and past president of St. Mary’s District Lion’s Club.  After several years of retirement in Sherbrooke he moved back to Halifax and continued his service as Elder and Session Clerk of Knox Presbyterian Church, Halifax.    He is survived by four daughters: Carol Secord [Richard], Halifax; Nancy Beaver [Owen], Sherbrooke; foster daughter Sheila Kaiser [Dwight], Halifax; foster daughter Carrie Turner, Halifax; one son, Clary [Sharon], Halifax; two grandsons, Christopher Secord and Michael Beaver [Chantal]; one foster granddaughter, Nicole Kaiser; two foster grandsons, Derek Brownlee and Matthew Turner; three great grandchildren, Cayden Haltom, Jack and Charlie Beaver, and many loving nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by the love of his life, wife Olive [MacKay] and son Steven Blair; brothers Anthony and Percy; sisters Ann MacIntosh and Jane McGue.   Since 2011, Clarence was resident at Northwood Manor and Centre, Gottingen Street.  He was under the compassionate and professional care of a dedicated team of whom Clarence often said, "They’re not staff - they’re family!"   Cremation has taken place.  A Funeral service, officiated by Rev. Michael Koslowski and Rev. Dr. Bruce Robertson, will be held beginning at noon on Thursday June 23, from the  J. Albert Walker Funeral Home Chapel, 149 Herring Cove Road, Halifax.  There will be a reception after the service followed by burial in St. John’s Columbarium, Halifax.  Family flowers only please.  Memorial donations may be made to Calvin Presbyterian Church, Halifax; the Palliative Care Unit, St. Mary’s Memorial Hospital, Sherbrooke and Northwood Foundation.