Robert J. Hembree
October 19, 1937 ~ August 9, 2016
Resided in:
Candler, NC
Robert J. "Bob" Hembree, 78, passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2016.
Bob was born in Murphy and was a son of the late Abe Hembree and Valerie Caldwell Hembree Brown.
A dedicated funeral director, he was a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and had served thousands of families in his 52 years with Groce Funeral Home.
He was a member of Abernethy United Methodist Church.
His family includes his wife of 58 years, Peggy M. Hembree; daughter, Cindy Reeves and her husband, Robert; and son, Michael Hembree.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 14, at Shepherd Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel with entombment to follow. The Revs. Allen Rash and G. Scott Lynch will officiate.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one's favorite charity.
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My condolences to Bob’s wife and family. His death marks the passing of a community legend. His caring spirit meant a lot to families and those of us who served them. I enjoyed many a good visit with Bob across his desk — much friendly, easy going conversation and laughter.
He is missed!
What an honorable man he was. He was such a help to me when my husband passed away. My deepest sympathy to the family.
I,m am so saddened to hear of Bob,s passing, he was such a caring, helpful & thoughtful man, I still have the $2.00 bills he gave to our granddaughter & will cherish them forever in his remembrance, I,m sure there will be a empty space at Groce without him, prayers for his family…..
Sorry to read about this , he was a very pleasant man , he was there to assist in the passing of my Dad , very respectful , my condolences to his family
Dear Family I’m so sorry for your loss or should I say Bobs gong home without all of you You are in our thoughts and prayers I pray God will give you strength comfort and peace he was a great man and a great friend to so many in loving memory the Barnes
Michael, I’m so sorry for your loss of your Dad. Sending my condolences, you and your family are in my prayers and thoughts. May God comfort each one of you give you peace. Amen.
Deepest condolence to Mrs. Hembree and Family, Bob was a light to so many of the families he worked with. Always a true gentleman who enjoyed a laugh with friends. What a pleasure to have worked with him from time to time thru out the years. Remembering you and your children in prayer. May you be comforted with Christ love and peace now and the days ahead.
Peggy, Cindy and Mike…I am so sorry for your loss and the loss for us at the funeral home. It was such a pleasure to work with Bob for the past twenty years. He always had a joke or comment that would break me up. The families loved him and his easy way of dealing with them. He has been and will be greatly missed. Much love to all of you !!
Peggy, Cindy and Mike. Buddy and I are so sorry for your loss and the loss to the community as well. He took care of both our families over the years and did so in such a way that he will never be forgotten. We also remember his knife collecting and his love of antiques. May God be with you in the weeks to come.
My condolences to the family.He was a kind and thoughtful man.
Mrs. Hembree and family,
We had the joy of serving alongside Bob in many memorial services over the past 43 years. He was a kind, pleasant and humorous man. We believe that he was a special servant of the Lord as he ministered to families in such a wonderful way at a time when people most need comforting words and gracious encouragement. We will be praying for your family in the days ahead.
Dr. and Mrs. James H. Johnson
So sorry Cindy and family.. Your Dad helped our family though some tough times. He was such a kind man. Our prayers are or you and family
We were sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. Our thoughts & prayers are with the family
Mike and Cindy and family,
So sorry to hear about your father. My prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Peggy, Cindy, and Mike, I am so sorry to hear about Bob. He seemed so much better the last t ime I saw him. He was such a good neighbor and friend for so many years..helped me thru some really tough times. Please know that my love and prayers are with all of you.
Mike, and family, We’re so sorry about your Dad. He was a great man, and was always a great friend to my Mom and Dad and was more than willing to help them with anything as far as the funeral home was concerned. He will be greatly missed. Brent and Sarah Blankenship
Dear Ones, It is hard to find words to convey the loss I feel in Bob’s home going. We have known each other since we were 5 or 6 yrs. old. May all of you know a special feeling of the love that surrounds you during this time. Know that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. My health does not permit my being with you. Love to each of you. Peggy
Mike, I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this time.
Saddened by the passing of Bob. Such a kind soul. Always helpful and comforting. My deepest condolences to the entire family. May God wrap you in his arms and help you find comfort.
Sorry for your loss praying for all
Ms. Peggy, Cindy and Mike,
I am so sad to learn of Mr. Bob’s passing.He was always such a nice, caring man. I fondly remember all the years that your family was our next door neighbors. We are praying for all encompassing comfort and peace from our Father. We love you all. Debbie Wright Davis
Mike so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. You and all the family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers. May God comfort you all.
What a great loss. He was a fine man that always had a huge hug and a smile when I saw him. I’m so sorry for your loss. Prayers for you all during this difficult time.
To the family I am so sorry to hear about Bob he was a good man,he always had a .kind word to everyone and would help anyone he could .Bob will be missed.Our prayers and thoughts are with the family .
I’m so sorry! What a great loss! Such a sweet sweet man! Bob was always so nice to everyone coming & going! Always had a smile on face & kind words to say. Bob will truly be missed!
We have known Bob for many years as he was the one we had dealings with for our church burials at Mt. View in Alexander and also with friends and our own kin. He was a wonderful person and they didn’t come any finer than Bob. We last saw him when he was on mama’s hall at Emerald Ridge. Mama was at the end of the hall and Bob still remembered us. We lost mama July 31st. Our deepest sympathy to Bob’s family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Earl & Shirley Clark and Debbie Parham (daughters of the late Elmer & Ila Parham)
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for strength at this time.
Peggy, Cindy, and Mike,
We were so sorry to hear of the oasiig of your amazing husband and Dad! He was such a witty and kind man to many in need in their greatest time of loss! My memories of being with you all growing up are very dear to my heart! We love you and are praying for you all!
Tammy Zimmermann and family
Dear Hembree family, so sorry to learn of Bob’s passing. He was such a kind and compassionate man, always had a smile. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Love, Charlie and Loretta Higdon and family.
To Bob’s family, I was so saddened to hear of his passing. He was always so friendly and kind to each person he met, and such a wonderful asset to Groce Funeral Home’s staff. He will surely be missed, but earth’s loss is heaven’s gain. You are close in our heart and prayers. Love the Glenn Stewart Family, Janet, Glenna, and Loretta
I’m so sorry for you loss, Mike. Prayers for you and your family.
Peggy, Cindy and Mike, our hearts go out to you during this difficult time. Bob was a kind, caring, helpful friend to so many during their times of grief. He will be greatly missed. May the Lord’s comfort and grace be yours. You are in our prayers.
We are so sorry to hear about Bob. He was such a good man and always had a kind and comforting word for everyone. He was always a Gentle man. We here at C & C Chemical had Always enjoyed doing business for many years and Always enjoyed the visits. Our Thoughts and Prayers are with the family. Bob will be truly missed.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Peggy and the Family. Bob always comforted me in my time of loss and I cherish the memories of our friendship
with Peggy and Bob. Godspeed old friend.
I was saddened to hear of Mr. Hembree’s passing. He was always a joy to serve & a pleasure to speak with. He will be sorely missed, as he always had a smile to brighten my day. May the Lord bless the family & keep you close during this sorrowful time.
Mike, so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. Prayers for you and the rest of the family
So sorry for your loss. He was a caring, compassionate man who was highly respected by his community. He will be greatly missed. Prayers for peace for the entire family.
So sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. He was always so wonderful to our family all these years and completely dedicated to those he helped at the funeral home. Please accept our deepest condolences from all the Groce’s.
Johnny Groce and Family
Sorry to hear Mike your dad was one of a kind I’m so glad I got to work with him.over the years he will be greatly missed. Prayers go out to your family.
There are few words to express our sorrow .; he was a great support for our families through the years His kindness is remembered by all of us. Prayers of peace and comfort for his family. .
We are so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. We hope that the family can gain some comfort in the fact that Bob was such a comfort to so many in very difficult times. He will be greatly missed.
We are so sorry to hear of Bob’so passing. With Bob’s help and guidance is one of the reasons I became a funeral director. My Mom and Dad thought there was nobody like Bob and Peggy.
Because of my health Becky and I are unable to be there. Just known we are thinking and praying for all the family.
Bobby and Becky
Peggy, our hearts and prayers go out to you ,Cindy and Mike. Bob was always their to help our family in the time off need.. May God bless you and the family , if you need us give us a call. Love Ken & Patty Hamlin
So sorry for your loss. Keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers.
We was saddened to hear of Bob’s passing,he was always a pleasure to work with.Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.
I’m SO sorry to read of Bob’s passing! You all use to live behind us for awhile, but I would see him everyday when I lived on Tampa Ave growing up! You all are in my prayers! Cindy, it’s been SO long since I’ve gotten to see you! I wish I could’ve come up, but I had a wreck 7/30 & no car & didn’t see this until today, 8/15! I’m behind on everything it seems. I’m so sorry for your loss & he was a very special person! Always like another dad to me! God Bless you all!
Bob was an amazing person that I had the opportunity to know him for more than 25 years. He will be so missed.
We were so sorry to hear about the passing of Bob. He was a wonderful, caring man He has meant so much to my family all through the years. He will be missed. God bless you.
I was very sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. We interfaced many times when I was working at Square D, and he was always so helpful when our associates lost loved ones and needed Groce Funeral Home’s services. He was always pleasant and friendly. My condolences to the family.
Bob was a great neighbor and a real help to our family when our oldest daughter passed away back in ’06. Bob’s gentle and kind spirit was a blessing and inspiration to us. Our prayers remain for Ms. Peggy, Cindy & family.
Bob has been available for our family during the loss of most of our family members. He was so kind and compassionate and seemed to always know what to say and how to lift ones spirits. He was never rushed and worked very diligently to make sure everything was just the way you wanted it. He has been our rock from the loss of a 14 month old to my dad 28 years ago to my mom in 2013 and my husbands parents in January, 2016 and a multitude of others dear to us. He will be missed by many. Family, may God provide the strength and courage for each new day. Our prayers and Deepest Sympathy are with you.
Bob has been available for our family during the loss of most of our family members. He was so kind and compassionate and seemed to always know what to say and how to lift ones spirits. He was never rushed and worked very diligently to make sure everything was just the way you wanted it. He has been our rock from the loss of a 14 month old to my dad 28 years ago to my mom in 2013 and my husbands parents in January, 2016 and a multitude of others dear to us. He will be missed by many. Family, may God provide the strength and courage for each new day. Our prayers and Deepest Sympathy are with you.
I can hear him now- all his words that made us proud to say ‘friend’-those overalls & the smile when he hugged his friends- Peggy, Cindy and Michael, we just learned of this unbelievable loss- my friend , Peggy, it has come time for us to have some time together- to you and the children, I hurt for you, although I have no words of wisdom to offer-I will be in touch- oh how I love my friends , Bob & Peg.