New Ownership-Will Waller takes the helm as lead Stonemason and Owner of Living Stone Masonry in Asheville NC!

Will (left) and Franklin enjoy tubing on the French Broad River in 2018 just before Will left for Portland.,

,Having come aboard in 2013, Will quickly became one of Living Stone Masonry's most valuable team members. He worked hard to learn the craft, and Franklin likes to say "I taught him everything I know." Will is unique in Asheville as a stonemason who is well versed in both Dry (DSWA level I certified) and Mortared stonework, whereas most masons here specialize in one or the other. These skills served him well when, in 2018, he relocated to Portland OR and went to work for Pete Wilson Stoneworks. He spent the last 3 years there, grinding it out with Basalt Stone and Pennsylvania Blue Stone before having his first child in early 2021. This made him rethink his priorities and he and Alyssa decided Asheville, NC is where they intended to raise their kid(s).

Layla supervises as Will levels large fieldstones in a driveway apron on Chicken Hill, Asheville.

In early Spring of 2021, Franklin was wondering what the fate of Living Stone Masonry and his beloved Dodge 350 Cummins (named Goldilocks) would be once he became a full time Realtor with Asheville Craft Realty. He had closed a few real estate deals at that point and was looking forward to completing the transition he started a year earlier. As fate would have it, Will and Alyssa had decided to relocate to Asheville, and Will was looking for a business opportunity! Franklin could not imagine handing it over to a better person- Will is a solid, well rounded individual with a great personality and the skill set to match.

"Goldilocks" is the centerpiece of Living Stone Masonry's tool kit, serving as a delivery truck and mobile tool shed.

While Franklin looks forward to a new, less physically demanding career as a Realtor, Will is eager to take the business to the next level. He looks forward to building a team and finding his niche in the increasingly high demand profession of Masonry in Asheville.

Franklin continues to be passionate and involved as a stone educator; he's scheduled to teach at 2 workshops in Nashville TN this year and hopes to one day bring the workshop format back to NC. He also intends to bring the same client focused, professional service to the Real Estate field as he brought to countless masonry clients over the years.

Will's wife Alyssa and baby Thomas.