Funeral services for David Ray Groce, age 59, of Mimosa Community will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 A M at Higgins Funeral Home with Brother Chris Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Booneville Cemetery. Mr. Groce died Saturday at his residence.
A native of Lincoln County, he was the son of Charles B. and Mary Thelma Croney Groce and the husband of Gina Smith Groce who survives. Mr. Groce was a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, the Chief Financial Officer of the Lincoln County Health Systems, an Elder of the Mimosa Church of Christ, and a director of the Lincoln County Health Facilities Foundation.
In addition addition to his wife, Mr. Groce is survived by his daughter: Kerri Brooke Groce, his son: Matthew Patrick Groce and wife Shalee, grandsons: Connor and Lane Groce, sisters: Judy Groce Rives and husband Willie, Anita Groce Rossnagel and husband Barton, Patricia Groce Bean and husband Ken, brothers: Billy Groce and wife June and Phillip Groce and wife Phila and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents Mr. Groce was preceeded in death by a sister: Wanda Groce Cornelius and brother in law: Gene Cornelius.
Visitation with the Groce Family will be Monday evening 5 until 8 PM at Higgins Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to Lincoln County Health Facilities Foundation, Mimosa Church of Christ, or the Nicholas Creson Scholarship Fund.
If you didn’t know David Groce you never met him. He was the same sweet person with the million dollar smile every time you saw him whether it was at the grocery, college halls, or at the hospital. After reading all these lovely tributes I see that I am not the only one who admired his remarkable being. What a wonderful legacy it is to leave so many devoted friends and so much love for his fellow man and his familly. Such an attribute is a real treasure and we will miss him. Thank you God for sharing him with us for a short time and we look forward to seeing him again in paradise. Gina, I pray that you have the strength and faith to raise your children like I know you will. In Christian Love, Rexine
Gina,
I’m so sorry for you and your family. You never know what God has in store for us. You think you’re in control but it is He who holds the future, nobody knows this better than me. We just have to give situations like this to Him and trust it’s what is best for you and the life around you. With Love, Brenda
Dear Groce Family,
Denny and I were shocked and saddened to hear of David’s untimely death. Having met him only once at Shalee’s and Matt’s wedding, we felt that Shalee was becoming part of a loving and caring family. May every warm memory that you hold in your hearts, comfort you in days ahead. May God bless and heal each of you.
Gina and family,
We were so saddened to hear of David’s passing. He was such an awesome person and spiritual leader. Mike still recounts how David helped him mature as a Christian by asking him to teach the adult class right after he was saved. Our hearts truly go out to you and your family. Please know that you are in our daily prayers. May God give you the strength and the peace that you will need to face the days ahead. We love you, Mike and Jane
So sorry to hear about David’s accident. My heart sunk when I heard the news. David was my supervisor at Elk Valley Home Health for many years, never has there been such a Boss as he was. I never heard a curse word or unkind word out of his mouth he seemed to always find the good in everything and everybody. I will always remember the good times we had with all of our co-worker family at Elk Valley. His great character and legacy as a Godly man will always remain and I’m sure he heard the words “Welcome my good and faithful servant” from our Heavenly Father as he entered the gates of Heaven.
Gina and family,
I am sorry for your loss, David was always a pleasure to work with and I enjoyed getting to know him over the years here at the hospital, we spoke of my family ties to your family in the past. My thoughts will be with you at this difficult time.
Benny
Gina and Family,
We are thinking of you and praying for your family during this time of loss. David was a great man and will be missed by many. May you find strength in your memories and times you shared. We wish you peace and love.
Matt
I am so sorry to hear of your father’s loss. We have you and your family in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time in your lives. Remember all of the memories that you have made with your father over the years, and that he is in a better place now, and 1 day you will see him again. God Bless you and your family.
Gina,Kerri,Matt,Shalee,and grandsons
I feel very blessed to say I had the opportunity to be a friend with David and have to the time working together for 20 years.He was always beside me in good and hard times.I always admired David being able to balance so perfectly his God ,his family, his work and his friends.
I am so sorry that his present and future grand children are not going to grow up with experienceing Davids precious ways.
It saddens us all to loose David but we ALL know that GOD is happy to have such a fine man in his presents.
May God give us all strength by remembering how David change us and made this a better place.
Mark Waters
Gina,I am so sorry for the loss of David. He sure was a nice person and he will be missed.You and the Groce family are in my thoughts and prayers. Mildred
for my david you will always have a very special place in my heart and in my memories it was so good to see you not long ago and that was my david and thats the one i want to remember just know that i will love you till my time on earth is done and i want you to meet me at heaven’s gate love always kat (holley) frazier
To the Family,
We were so saddened to learn of David’s death. I never met him that he didn’t stop to take time to speak with a smile on his face. He was a gracious and loving person and will be deeply missed by his family, many friends and co-workers.
May your memories help to sustain you during this very difficult time. May God Bless and Comfort You.
He was always consistent.
Authentic.
Generous.
Kind.
I found David to be a man of integrity.
I will miss this good man.
I was saddened this morning to hear about David’s accident. While I have never met him in person, I have talked to him numerous times over the years and always enjoyed talking with him. He was always a very polite caring man. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow.
My sincerest sympathy to your family at David’s sudden and tragic death. He was always so kind to me and my family and his soft-spoken voice was always a comfort. I wish there was something I could say to make this easier, just know that David is with the Lord and we will see him again someday. May God bless your family and give you comfort in your time of sorrow.
Please accept my deepest sympathy and heartfelt thoughts. David was a friend especially in our Senior year and right after graduation. We shared a lot of fun times with Barbara and Terry Groce. May the comfort of friends and family be your strength now and in the days ahead, and may the entire family find consolation in the thought that God is with you always. David touched so many lives.
Gina and family may gods blessings be with you in the loss of your love one. You will be in our prayers. Dennie and Betty Jo
Our hearts go out to the entire family over the loss of your dear husband, father, grandfather, brothers and sisters. David was a fine person, I remember him as being the same every time we saw him. He is going to be missed by so many people. our prayers are with all of you and we hope that your fond memories will help you through this sad time.
God Bless each and every one of you!!
Floyd and Imogene
Like everyone else, I was so saddened to hear the news. I worked with David at H G Hills while I was in high school from 74-77. I couldn’t have worked with a finer gentleman. I regret that I will be unable to pay my respects in person, but, will keep his family in my prayers.
The entire Woody Anderson Ford Team wanted to express our sadness with the loss of David. Our prayers are with the family and friends who are having to endure this tragedy. God Bless
-Eric Hedges
Our hearts are heavy over the loss of David. Mike and I both worked for David at H.G. Hill’s many years ago. No one could ask for a better boss. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers in the days to come.
You know it has been said that God understands our prayers even when we can’t find the words to say them. That is the feeling I have right now. Gina, Matt, and Kerri my heart breaks with you and for you. This life was never meant to be the place of our perfection, but the preparation for it. David Groce was well prepared. He leaves us that legacy to admire and follow. May the peace of God find you in the days to come.
To Gina and your family
To my dear school friend Pat Groce Bean and your family,
I was so very sorry to hear about David. Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Cherish the memories! And may God give you strength and be ever near and dear to you. Kay Bevels Schroeder
There are no words to convey the feelings of sadness and concern that I feel for your family. My heart goes out to you. I have a deep respect and affection for David and for your family. His influence will continue as long as his memory endures. I lift you all up in prayers….
I know every situation is different, but I know a little bit about what you are dealing with now. May God comfort you as only he can do. Because He Lives, Amy S. Osteen
So so sorry. As you all know, David was a precious person – smiled all the time. May your beautiful memories help carry you through this difficult time. You’re in our prayers and in our hearts.
In Christian Love,
Peggy & Virgil
Philip sold David his tractor and always talked about how kind and agreeable he was. Keeping the family in our prayers.
As a Vendor at the Hospital, David always was very professional and courteous to me! I know LMC will miss his Leadership.
Stan Hurt Knoxville, TN
Magic is often said to happen “Once in a Lifetime”. For me, this magic happened in 1995. I had the pleasure of working for David at Elk Valley. It was my first job after college graduation. He was a special person. The whole group of people that I worked with back then felt like family. David was an amazing boss and great friend to me. I have tried since then to find that feeling again and no one has ever compared to the relationships and friendships I had working at Elk Valley. David was the BEST boss and no one has ever come close to comparing to him. I will greatly miss him. and I am so sorry for your loss. Many thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Holly Stovall
Sending our deepest sympathy to all the family. David was a wonderful Christian man and good friend to everyone he met. We were blessed to have known him. He and his wonderful smile will be greatly missed. May God mend your broken hearts.
God Bless.
Tim & Dora
To David’s Family and Friends,
My heart is broken to hear this sad news. It has been a blessing to work with him and get to know him as a friend over the years. He truly is a kind, gentle soul and will be dearly missed.
I pray that God wrap his loving arms around you and comfort you now and all the days.
Always,
Suetta Williamson
The Crighton Group
Gina and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Jed and Scarlet Watson
Dear Gina and Groce Family,
I am so sorry to hear about David. I have so many good memories of the years we worked together. Please know that our prayers are with you. May God sustain you during these difficult days.
Kinser Family
Gina,
I was so saddened when Sharon called me this morning and told me about David. I hold you and your family in my heart and prayers. May God give you the strength you need for the coming days.
Blessings,
Sue Lynn
Dear Gina, Matt, Kerri and entire Groce Family,
May God comfort your hearts today and bless you with your many treasured memories. We all know what a dear person David was and what a void he leaves. He (and all the Groce Family) have been so special to me. Know that you are in our thoughts, our hearts, and our prayers. Carolyn and Family
OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY DAVID WAS A GREAT MAN AND CO-WORKER IF THERES ANY WAY WE COULD HELP THE FAMILY THROUGH THIS TRAGIC TIME WE ARE MORE THEN WILLING
Sorry to hear about David accident. He was a very good man. We go back a long time since he worked at H G Hills. To Billy, Philip and Pat as well as other family members. I so sorry and know he will be missed.
Ed Perdue
David was a great man. I loved working with him. We always stopped to talk whenever we saw each other. I will greatly miss him.
Gina, Kerri, Matt and all the Groce brothers, sisters –
i am saddened to no end to hear of David’s accident last night. Words just simply cannot express the sorrow that I am feeling. Gina I have no way of knowing what it feels like to lose your spouse but my heartfelt sympathy is with you. Kerri and Matt as his children you know what a great Daddy he was to you but you two I know how it feels to lose your Daddy when you are young. I was 29 and my Daddy was 53 when I lost him. You treasure your memories, do your best, love your children just as he loved you. May God comfort you at this time. look to your loved ones and friends and other church members for comfort. I will try to send a card to the house and tell you some of the memories I have of your Daddy and they will make you smile. I feel in my heart that God just welcomed one of his children home and the angels are singing in heaven. In Christian Love Kathy Talley
Gina and family,
So sorry for your loss, my heart is breaking for you and your children.
Heather and Family