Thomas Allen Staats Sr.

Thomas Allen Staats, Sr., 81, of Salisbury, NC, passed away July 15, 2024 at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center. Tom was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan on March 6th,1943 to Harold and Glennell Staats. Tom was the third of four children. He attended Austin Preparatory Catholic School and graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. Tom and Cyncie (Butterly) married after Tom began his career at J L Hudson in Detroit in retail. He and his young family moved to Miami, Florida to become Merchandise Manager in furniture for Burdine's. Tom was offered the opportunity to run Carter West in California and ultimately relocated to Salisbury to run the furniture business. The Staats have called Salisbury home for over 40 years now and are very thankful that his work brought them here. Tom was also President of Highland House Furniture in Hickory with Thomasville and lastly with Century Furniture. He was very creative and was responsible for many new Collections for Highland House, Harrod's in London, Pierre Deux, Rue de Provence, and Cotswold Cottage Collections. Tom retired after almost 45 years in the furniture business. Tom joined Rotary and was on the Boards of Rowan Helping Ministries and Prevent Child Abuse. His work afforded him the experience of travel to interesting places. Tom and Cyncie together enjoyed trips with dear friends. Tom was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather. He loved his family dearly. With every move whether it be to Florida, California or North Carolina, Tom had many long-lasting friendships and he continued to nurture those relationships all his life. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, William and sister, Carole. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 57 years, Cynthia Butterly Staats; sons, Thomas “Tommy” Staats, Jr. (Samantha), Mark Butterly Staats (Amanda)); daughter, Kitty S. Bozzini (Chris); sister, Alice M. Black (Dalton) and grandchildren, Thomas Staats, III, Spencer Bozzini, Alexandra Staats, Matthew Bozzini and Ethan Staats. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday (July 26) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father John Eckert officiating. The family would like to thank Dr. Chetan Amin, DO, Tiffany Ingold, PA-C and the staff at Autumn Care for their care of Mr. Staats. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Rowan Helping Ministries, 226 N. Long Street, Salisbury, NC 28144 or Prevent Child Abuse Rowan, Inc. 130 Woodson Road, Salisbury NC 28144. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Staats family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Thomas Allen Staats Sr.

March 6, 1943 - July 15, 2024