A Message to Our East Asheville Families

For more than 16 years, it has been our privilege to serve families at our East Asheville/Tunnel Road location at 856 Tunnel Rd. We are deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in us and for allowing us to be part of your family’s story.

As we look to the future, we are writing to share that as of June 1, 2026, services at our East Asheville location will be transitioning to our other locations: Lake Julian (72 Long Shoals Rd. in Arden) and West Asheville (1401 Patton Ave.). While this marks the closing of a building, it does not change the heart of who we are or the care we provide. In fact, this transition allows us to bring our teams together, strengthen our resources, and continue serving families with even greater support, accessibility, and personal attention. Groce Funeral Home will proudly continue to be owned, managed and operated by the Groce family, just as we’ve been since 1929.

We also want to share that Al Williams, who has served as manager of our Tunnel Road location and has been part of the Groce Funeral Home family for more than 25 years and Kay Beachboard, who has served as our Tunnel Road office manager for the past several years, will both continue with Groce Funeral Home. Families can count on Al and Kay’s steady presence, experience, and compassionate care as they continue to serve at our other two locations.

If you currently have pre-need plans on file at our East Asheville location, please know that those arrangements remain secure and fully in place. All of the physical pre-need files from the Tunnel Road location will be moved to our location in West Asheville, but we will fully honor them at either of our locations or help to transfer them any other funeral establishment.

We invite you and your family to visit both our Lake Julian and West Asheville locations. Touring the spaces, meeting our dedicated staff, and experiencing the care we provide firsthand can offer added peace of mind. During your visit, we would be honored to review your existing plans with you and make any updates you may need at no cost, as you consider what feels right for you.

This transition is centered on strengthening how we serve families. By bringing our teams and resources together, we can ensure every family receives the highest level of care, attention, and compassion, both now and in the years to come. Our commitment to you remains unchanged, and we look forward to continuing to serve your family with the same trust and dedication that the families of Western North Carolina have valued since our inception in 1929.

We understand that any change can bring questions, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us to review your plans, schedule a visit, or simply speak with a member of our team, who will be glad to answer questions.

Thank you again for allowing us to serve your family. It is an honor we hold with the utmost respect.

With sincere gratitude,

W.H. “Bill” Groce Jr, W.H. “Trey” Groce, III & Scott D. Groce