Mabel Lee Groce, 92, of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, passed away on September 22, 2026.
Mabel was born November 2, 1933, the daughter of Estes Roach and Beulah Young Roach. On March 29, 1950, she married the love of her life, Printis Groce, beginning a marriage that spanned more than 76 years.
After their marriage, Mabel and Printis lived in Burkesville, Kentucky, before moving to Indianapolis, Indiana. From Indianapolis, they moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, so Printis could fulfill his obligation to his country by serving in the United States Army. After his service, they returned to Burkesville, where their only—and admittedly spoiled—child, Stevie Mark, was born on August 4, 1954. They eventually moved back to Indianapolis.
During her years in Indianapolis, Mabel worked at several businesses, including White Castle, JCPenney, American Bearing, Stark & Wetzel, and Link-Belt. In 1980, Mabel and Printis returned to Kentucky and moved to the farm near Tompkinsville, where she devoted herself to their home and family.
If you came to Mabel’s house, chances were good that one of the first things she wanted to do was fix you something to eat. She inherited that trait from her mother, Beulah, and carried it throughout her life. For Mabel, feeding people was one of the ways she showed that she cared for them. When Mabel fixed a meal, she believed in making sure there was plenty. A proper meal might include two main dishes, at least three or four sides, and, of course, dessert—and no one was going to leave her table hungry.
She loved gardening and took great pride in preserving and canning just about everything that came from the garden. She was also known for the desserts she made for family and friends, especially her fried apple pies and buckeyes. Food, family, and taking care of the people around her were simply part of who Mabel was.
Mabel was a member of Bethlehem Church. Her faith, love of family, and generous spirit were reflected in the way she lived each day. She found joy in the simple things: working in her garden, preparing food for others, preserving the harvest, and welcoming family and friends into her home. Her kindness was often expressed through the practical things she did, but those acts left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Estes and Beulah Roach; her half-brother, Fred York; her half-sister, Fairy Scott; and her sisters, Christine Dicks and Lorene Horton.
She is survived by her husband of 76 years, Printis Groce of Tompkinsville; her son, Stevie Mark Groce and his wife, Sue, of Greenville, South Carolina; her brother, Clyde Roach of Indianapolis, Indiana; as well as several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many friends.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Yokley Trible Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Monroe County Memorial Lawn. Visitation is Friday, after 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mabel’s memory may be made to Bethlehem Church or the Shanti Niketan Hospice Home.
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