Obituaries

Obituaries » Robert Steven Huskey

Check your settings when you are happy with your print preview press the print icon below.

Show Obituaries Show Guestbook Show Photos QR Code Print

Robert Steven Huskey

February 10, 1953 - December 17, 2022

Service Date December 21, 2022

Obituary Viewed 1463 times

Share your Memorial with Family & Friends

Robert Steven “Steve” Huskey, age 69, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. Steve graduated from Alcoa High school and then from Cleveland State Community College with honors. He won the Aviation Award for being the most outstanding student and received his pilot’s license at that time. He took his college buddies flying in a Cessna 172 above I-75 in Bradley County. He pulled some G’s for all and then flew on to Chattanooga. He made straight A’s in Aviation and was one of the quickest to earn a pilot’s license at CSCC. Steve also flew Cessna 150’s and Cherokee 150’s. He attended Eagleton Junior High School where he was a member of The National Junior Beta Club and also a member of the band where he played both a snare and bass drum.

In the fall of 1968, his parents enrolled him at Kentucky Military Institute in Louisville, KY. He could perform track and he would run straight at the high jump bar, jump five feet over while standing straight up and land in a standing position. His friend, Nick Warchauer who witnessed it, was astonished.

In 1968-69, Steve played football and baseball for Kentucky Military Institute. He was an outfielder and the clean-up hitter for the baseball team and defensive tackle for the football team. In his youth, Steve played baseball at Alcoa Little League where he was an All-Star first baseman. He also played left field, catcher and pitcher during the season. His coach had asked him to pitch that year, 1965, for The Tigers. His first two games pitching he won, making a record 2-0. He relished this because he had no losses at that time. Then the very next game he lost making his record 2-1. After Little League he played Babe Ruth League, the next league up. Steve’s coach brought his uniform to his house to make sure he received it and played. Steve was personally coached by Jerry Hurst.

Steve was a weight lifter and in his sophomore year of high school could press straight up over his head 155 pounds while weighing in at 150 pounds. He did not have bulging muscles, but was strong. In the beginning of his junior year, the fall of 1969 he was a student at Lakeside High School in Atlanta where he wrestled his way into the minds and hearts of his classmates. Steve’s classmates considered him and his wrestling partner the most exciting to watch.

At sixteen Steve was a short order cook for Shoney’s in Atlanta and previously worked fountain for Shoney’s in Nashville and then later in Knoxville. He enrolled at Everett High in 1970 and went out for football in the spring but did not come back to play in the fall.

In 1975 Steve received an “A” in bowling at CSCC. To get an “A” he had to bowl an average of 130+, pass written exams and keep his attendance up by showing up at 7:00 am at the bowling alley. He also learned to keep score. He wasn’t so fortunate in golf. He received a “B” but liked this class because he could hit 300 yards out on the range and hit a dilapidated trailer on the fly. Not everyone could hit that distance. He also took auto mechanics at Cleveland State. In 1980, his softball coach selected him as the Most Valuable Player on the team. His batting average was .625. He could place-hit the ball to any field.

His friend had a jet boat and would pull Steve around Louisville Point Park on Fort Loudon Lake. While on his slalom ski his friend would make immediate 180 degree turns at the smallest part of the cove, but could not get Steve to fall. Steve loved to ski and was very good at it.

In his early twenties, while attending UT he water skied (slalom) with the UT Water-Ski Club on Norris Lake. He enjoyed being on the water, especially Norris. He was an excellent swimmer and completed four years of swimming lessons from the American Red Cross. He could make a big splash at the pool by doing a half-cannon. However, his greatest athletic ability was never utilized and that was the sport of basketball. He would practice for hours upon hours at home and then play in gym classes at AHS during his freshman year. Steve never missed a shot in these games and it didn’t take long before the upperclassmen were giving him the ball to make a shot.

Steve enjoyed spending time with family, going out to eat, walking and bicycling at his favorite park, Springbrook in Alcoa, playing putt-putt, reading medical books, non-fiction books and The Bible.

He enjoyed watching old television shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza” and “Walker, Texas Ranger” and listening to his favorite songs from the 60s and 70s.

Did he enjoy roller coasters? If they were big, he did! He drove 300 miles to King’s Island in Cincinnati. He liked The Beast the best. He rode small coasters with his daughter. Steve studied books on how to get the most out of your ride and he did. This was his favorite park and he bought season passes for his family.

That’s not all Steve liked; he loved music. He received a “B” in guitar at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN in 1974. He also took lessons from Marvin Russell and enjoyed playing his guitar until the end. His signature song that he enjoyed singing and playing was “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison. He also took tennis lessons and self-defense at LMU and did well at both.

He relished in jug fishing and always caught fish, always. The catch would be 10-35% of the jugs cast. Steve cast 100 half-gallon jugs and picked them up with a hook on a pole. He encouraged others to use correct line, length, strength, hook size, bait and lake location. Everyone in the boat got to bring in a fish, even the kids. The Daily Times ran a featured story on Steve and his jug fishing.

He had his own pool table and ping-pong table that he enjoyed playing with friends. He was good at pool and rarely lost on his own table but there were those who could beat him. He made up for it in ping-pong and was tough to beat. He came in first place in a small ping-pong tournament and fifth place in a large one in Knoxville. Steve enjoyed playing cards such as spades, hearts and rummy, even if he stayed up all night. He found himself on the winning team most of the time and always had fun. Steve was also a member of the Blount County Chess Club for several years (led by Larry Thomas, R. PH).

Steve enjoyed riding motorcycles since the age of thirteen. He rode mostly Hondas but also a Triumph 650 and Kawasaki 900. At age 15, he rode his Honda 90 to Kokomo, IN and much around the South East including 311 curves in Blount County many times over in 1968 long before it was known as “The Dragon.” He enjoyed it very much and his small bike made the curves much easier. His Honda 90 never broke down with him and he was always thankful to his friend, Bill Russell, for selling him the bike. While in Atlanta in 1970 he traded his Honda 90 in on a 305 Scrambler at The Honda Shop. Planes, cars, motorcycles and boats – Steve could pilot them all.

Steve was a member of the Blount County Writer’s Club where he was Vice-President. He enjoyed sharing ideas with the other writers who came to participate. He wrote a true story action-packed book (unpublished) about two sixteen-year old teenagers who were in love and their many trials. He wrote a second book (unpublished) titled “13 Nightmares.” He wrote a song titled “The Day My Food Was Taken Away” (Music written by Marvin Russell.) about a lone person who gets up from the table for a drink refill and an employee clears the table. Steve wrote more than 1600 poems/songs/lyrics that are copyrighted with The Library of Congress. They include pop, country, humorous and religious. Steve received many compliments on his personal handwriting.

Steve took an “Appliance and Refrigeration Repair Class” at William Blount’s Vocational School in 1982. It enabled him to do minor repairs. He also took a class entitled “The Songwriter’s Roundtable” in 1998 at a nearby college. It helped to enhance his writing abilities. He never stopped wanting to learn.

He wanted to become a better choir member so he took voice lessons from Smoky Mountain Music and from First Baptist Concord’s School of Fine Arts in 1993-1995. When finished, his voice range was three (3) octaves and two (2) notes and his blended voice in the choir was better than ever.

He completed the American Red Cross School Health Program and scored 98% on the written test. He also took First Aid at CSCC. Steve’s family called him “Dr. Steve” for his advice and assistance with their medical needs.

At his 20-year reunion with Alcoa High School, his classmates voted him “least changed” and he was honored. His favorite teachers at AHS were Dr. Betty Smith and Mrs. Elizabeth Long. Both of them had hearts of gold.

Steve drove a truck for a dairy and was commended for exceptional performance in the area of safety. He worked for the United States Postal Service and acquired his US Government Motor Vehicle Operator’s License. He then worked for The Ethanol Corporation in Knoxville where he was terminal manager for many years. In between jobs, he successfully bought and sold used cars.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, Concord where he sang in the choir and taught fifth grade Sunday School in the late nineties. Steve had the co-lead in the play “Joseph and Mary” at a local Baptist Church. It was standing room only and everyone enjoyed the play.

Steve is preceded in death by:

Grandparents, Ross and Atha McInturff. Ross was a Foreman at Alcoa’s North Plant and previously a teacher/coach in Greenville, TN. He had a four-year degree from Carson Newman. Atha was the first Librarian at Eagleton Junior High and taught there for many years where she was loved by her students. She was also a principal at Hubbard. She had a Master’s degree from UT. Steve lived with his grandparents growing up.

Great Aunt Rose McInturff Robinson Lankford was a pioneer in Tennessee Education, a Who’s Who in American Education and too many other firsts to name in the area of Tennessee Education. She earned her Master’s degree and taught in Blount County and Maryville City Schools and was a multi-talented person. She retired from The State of Tennessee Education Department. Steve mowed her yard as a young man and visited her often after that.

Reverend Bill and Great Aunt Louise (Atha’s sister) Medling were missionaries in Japan for thirty (30) years. They loved the Japanese culture and could speak the language. Bill and Louise both had Seminary degrees.

Great Uncle, Clifford (Atha’s brother) and Audrey Gulley enjoyed going out to eat with Steve often. Clifford had a degree from Carson Newman and retired from the Tennessee Department of Health.

Steve’s Dad played basketball for Porter High School and earned a Master’s degree from UTK. He taught school, mostly H.S., all his life. His Mother could play any sheet of music put before her. She played piano for First Baptist of Alcoa.

By reading about his relatives, you can see where Steve got his gifts, talents and abilities.

Steve always made sure his family was taken care of. He enjoyed sharing his experiences and took time to extend a warm loving hand to help others.

Steve loved God more than anyone. He received many spiritual gifts from The Holy Spirit including and in order of dominance: Knowledge, Evangelism, Faith, Teaching, Giving, Prophecy, Discernment and Wisdom. All gifts confirmed by The Houts Inventory of Spiritual Gifts.

Steve didn’t just read The Bible he studied The Bible with all the tools at his command. He looked forward to being in Heaven. If you should doubt Steve’s faith, you should read some of his poetry. Two of his many favorite Bible verses are: Mark 6:4 and Mathew 7:1-2. Please read.

Steve is survived by his daughter, Spring Huskey Heaton, son-in-law Adam, former wife of 30 years, Dorthy Green Huskey, a host of many other relatives and his black pit bull, Rocket.