OBITUARY: Steve Haley

Steve Haley, age 65, went home to be with the Lord, Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Alive Hospice in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday May 7th at 1:00 p.m. at Robertson County Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Bellwood Cemetery, Adams, TN. Pallbearers will be Richard Beirne, C. C. “Chappie” Chapman, Teddy Douglas, Tim Gray, Kenneth Holman, Roger Melton, Kelvin Penuel, and Chuck Sugg. Honorary pallbearers will be Brad Carneal, Bryant Crabtree, Jerry Farmer, Alan Holman, J. C. Kellar, Scott Marshall, and Kenneth Westerman.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Steve was born December 7, 1959, in Springfield to the late Johnny and Rena Wix Haley of Guthrie, KY. He leaves to cherish his memory, the love of his life, Elaine Cook Haley, Timothy (Laura) Haley, Sarah Haley (fiancé Dr. Garrison Johnston), and grandson, Arthur James Haley. Steve is also survived by his loving sisters, Denise Haley and Rhonda Haley. He leaves behind his aunt, Joan Wix, and numerous additional cousins.

Steve was a proud 1977 graduate of Todd County Central High School and Austin Peay State University. He began his career at age 10 selling Grit newspapers pedaling his bike on the streets of Guthrie. From his grandparents’ farm, he learned the business of eggs and was employed by Hudson Bros. Egg Company. Thus began a 45 year career in the grocery business. He later joined RJR/Nabisco and was the 1992 Salesman of the Year for the Nashville Division. He finished his career with Private Label Marketing, a sales and merchandising firm for Kroger.

Steve loved his community and was a dedicated public servant. He was elected to represent District 11 of the Robertson County Commission in 2006. He cared deeply about the welfare of Robertson County and the education of its citizens. He served his constituents well by attending countless committee meetings. In Guthrie he was an active member of the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Committee. The house museum is a few short blocks from his boyhood home. Its namesake was the first Poet Laureate of the United States.

As a wholly present father, he coached and refereed YMCA youth soccer for several years. He championed his children in everything they did and was a strong supporter of all children in Springfield schools. An avid sports junkie, he was a dedicated fan of Springfield High School, the University of Kentucky and the Cincinnati Reds. Steve was a man of diverse interests and a lifelong learner. He was generous with his time, talents and means.

He loved reading and enjoyed acting in several productions of the Robertson County Players as well as every church play. Steve was a man of intense faith and immense integrity who would encourage us to pursue our passion for Jesus. His well-worn Bibles were the foundation for teaching Sunday School and Disciple Bible Study for decades. He was an ordained deacon in the church of his youth, Tiny Town Baptist Church of Guthrie and was a generous supporter of The Gideons International and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Coming from a long line of storytellers, Steve started writing late in life and realized a longtime dream to become a published author. He created “The Guthrie I Remember” column and was published in four regional newspapers and online, winning an award from the Kentucky Press Association. Steve was a lover of people and was a keen observer of small town rural life. The warmth of his memory stories helped us see the best in people, the dignity of all persons, and the importance of kindness. Humor peppered his creations with the tagline description, “an extraordinary, ordinary boy.”

Memorial contributions may be made to the Northern Middle Tennessee Fellowship of Christian Athletes, P. O. Box 97, Hendersonville, TN 37077, The Todd County Central High School Alumni Foundation, Inc., P. O. Box 611, Elkton, KY 42220, or the Robert Penn Warren Birthplace Museum, 122 Cherry St., Guthrie, KY 42234.