Losing someone is heavy. Finding their story shouldn't be.
If you grew up in Western North Carolina, the morning ritual usually involved a cup of coffee and a slow flip through the paper. You’d check the weather, look at the local headlines, and inevitably land on the Asheville Citizen Times obits. It’s where the community’s history is written in real-time. But honestly, the way we find these records has changed so much lately that even locals get confused.
Most people think you can just "Google it" and find everything. You can't. Not exactly.
The Digital Shift: Finding Asheville Citizen Times Obits Today
The paper isn't just a physical stack on your driveway anymore. It's a digital ecosystem. Since the Asheville Citizen-Times is part of the USA TODAY Network, their death notices and full-length tributes live on a platform called Legacy.com.
It’s basically a massive digital filing cabinet.
If you are looking for someone who passed away in the last 30 days, the process is fairly straightforward. You go to the paper’s website or the Legacy portal, type in a last name, and you're usually good. But here’s the kicker: after a few weeks, those entries can feel like they’ve vanished into a black hole if you don't know where to look.
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Why the "Last 30 Days" Filter Trips People Up
Most sites default to a narrow window. If your great-aunt passed away six weeks ago, a standard search might show zero results. You have to manually toggle the "date range" to "All" or "Past Year." It sounds simple, but when you're grieving or just trying to find a service time, it’s a hurdle you don't need.
The Secret to the Deep Archives
Let’s say you aren't looking for a recent service. Maybe you’re doing genealogy. Maybe you’re trying to find a grandfather’s military honors from 1985.
The Asheville Citizen Times obits from decades ago aren't just sitting on a free website. They are buried in specialized databases. Here is how you actually get to them:
- GenealogyBank: They have digitized records for Asheville that go back a long way.
- Ancestry.com: Specifically, they host a collection called "U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current." It’s indexed, so you can search by name rather than scrolling through blurry scans of old newsprint.
- The Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society (OBCGS): These folks are the real deal. They have an actual library in Asheville with physical files and a massive digital index. If a name is misspelled in the digital archives, the volunteers here can often help you find it.
- Pack Memorial Library: Located right downtown. Their North Carolina Room is a treasure trove. If you want to see the actual page of the newspaper from 1944, this is where you go for microfilm.
How to Place an Obituary (The No-Nonsense Way)
When it’s your turn to write one, the stress is real. You're trying to summarize a whole life while dealing with funeral directors and cousins who want to change the wording.
To get an obit into the paper, you have two main routes.
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First, the funeral home. Most Asheville-area homes like Groce, Morris, or Anders-Rice will handle the submission for you. They have direct portals into the Gannett system. It’s easier, but you might pay a service fee.
The second way is DIY. You can email ashobits@gannett.com.
The Cost Reality
Let’s be real: it’s expensive. You aren't just paying for the ink; you're paying for the "real estate" in the paper. The Asheville Citizen-Times charges based on the length of the text and whether you include a photo or a logo (like a flag for veterans or a cross).
If you want to save money, keep the print version short. Include the basics—name, dates, survivors, and service info—and then use the online version for the long stories about their love for fly fishing or their famous apple pie recipe.
Deadlines are Strict
If you want the obit to run on a Sunday (the most read day), you usually need to have it submitted and paid for by early Friday afternoon. If you miss that 1:30 PM ET cutoff, you're out of luck.
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Writing Something That Actually Sounds Like Them
The best Asheville Citizen Times obits I’ve read lately aren't the ones that list a bunch of corporate titles. They are the ones that mention how the person always carried dog treats in their pocket or how they never missed a Saturday at the North Asheville Tailgate Market.
Don't feel pressured to use "corporate" or "formal" language. If they were a "kinda" messy gardener who loved the Blue Ridge Parkway, say that.
Actionable Steps for Your Search or Submission
If you’re currently navigating this, here is exactly what to do next:
- For a Recent Search: Go to the Legacy.com Asheville portal. Set your date filter to "All Time" before you type the name to avoid missing anyone by just a few days.
- For Historic Research: Check the Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society’s online index. It’s free to search, even if you have to pay a small fee to get the full copy.
- For Submitting an Obit: Gather the funeral home's contact info. The newspaper must verify the death with a licensed professional (or a death certificate) before they will publish anything. They won't just take your word for it—it’s a fraud prevention measure.
- Double-Check the Proof: When the paper sends you the proof, read it out loud. Look specifically at the spelling of survivors' names and the date of the service. Once it hits the press, it’s permanent.
The Asheville Citizen Times obits serve as a permanent record of the people who shaped this mountain town. Whether you're looking for a long-lost relative or saying goodbye to a parent, knowing the digital landscape makes a hard time just a little bit easier. Just remember to look beyond the first page of search results. The real stories are often a few clicks deeper.