John Efford Grear, III

John Efford Grear, III, 74, of Asheville, passed away Sunday, February 17, 2019. A native of Memphis, TN, he was a son of the late Edith Mackassey and John Efford Grear, Jr. He was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Elizabeth Ann Grear and one brother, George M. Grear. John is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Patricia Wallace Grear; one son, Christopher Wallace Grear (Meggan); one daughter, Katherine Laurel Grear (Mike Adams); four grandchildren, Samuel Wallace Grear, Alexander Christopher Grear, Lillian Rose Grear and Garnet Lovey Adams-Grear; one sister, Nancy Mitchell (Jim); one sister-in-law, Barbara Wallace Boatner, as well as several nieces and nephews. John worked his way through Rhodes College and the University of Memphis playing guitar in a garage band, The Counts, from 1961 through 1965. Memphis radio stations still have requests to play their recording of "Stormy Weather". He was called to serve and enlisted in the Army in 1969, and was honorably discharged when his Mother passed away, leaving him the head of his family. He and his wife Patty were married in 1970 on February 28th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Memphis, surrounded by family and friends of many years. In 1973 during a long-waited honeymoon, they found the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina to be a wonderful place to raise a family and made it their home. John began his career in finance in 1981 with JC Bradford & Company, received the Certified Financial Planning designation in 1986, a Master of Science from the College of Financial Planning in 1994, and his Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation in 2003 from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business. John served many clients over three generations and was known by all for his compassion and integrity. He will be greatly missed by his financial planning family, but especially by his business partners of over 15 years, Denise Godley and Kale Olson. John’s community involvement included 10 years as a board member for Memory Care in Asheville, and a life-long member of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, but his greatest achievements came through the Hendersonville Kiwanis Club. John was awarded the prestigious Legion of Honor Award for 35 years of faithful service in the Club. He was Chairman of the Kiwanis Shoes & Socks Program since 1999, providing new shoes and socks for local homeless or needy school children. He was awarded the Human and Spiritual Values Award in 2011, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a member of the club. He always served as a Salvation Army bell-ringer at Christmas time, and at the annual pancake breakfast fundraiser. John loved the mountains and hiked almost every imaginable trail from the Balsams to Grandfather Mtn. Besides spending time in nature his hobbies were feeding & watching birds and playing his classical guitar. His children have inherited his many qualities and blessed him with his greatest blessings as "Pop Pop" to four loving grandchildren. He was a tremendously kind, loyal and loving father, husband and community member and will be greatly missed. A Memorial Mass will be Celebrated at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at the Basilica Of St. Lawrence, DM and will be officiated by Reverend David McCanless. The family will host a reception following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Kiwanis Club Foundation Memo: Shoes & Socks Program, PO Box 2138, Hendersonville, NC 28793 Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.