Tom Penland

Tom “Carrot Top” Penland, 52, of 144 South Hale Wood Rd., Marshall, went to his new home in Heaven after a period of declining health on Thursday, January 18, 2007, at Hospice Solace Center.

Mr. Penland was a son of Louise Laughter Reemes, of Asheville, and the late Hubert Rankin Penland. He was also preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Hubert and Hattie Mae Garrett Penland Brown and maternal grandparents, John and Fannie Laughter.

In addition to his mother, Mr. Penland is survived by his wife, Teresa Surrett Penland; son, Jonathan Edward Penland, of Leicester; daughter, Michelle Leigh Penland, of Leicester; brothers, Bill Penland, of Leicester, and Bob Penland and wife Jill, of Weaverville; sister Anne Nehme, of Asheville; special nephew, Bryan Penland, and several other nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the chapel of Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. with the Rev. Furman Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Paynes Chapel Cemetery.

His family will receive friends 1-3:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. At other times, the family will be at 609 Sandy Mush Rd., Leicester.

Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC, 28813.

The family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to the Hospice Solace Center for the exceptional care given to Tom during his illness and also special thanks to Dr. Larry Rosenberg.