Steven Gunnar Jeffords, 61, of Hopkinsville, passed away at 11:55 p.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025, at his residence after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Private family services will be held at a later date. Hughart, Beard & Giles Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.
A native of Biloxi, MS, he was born September 16, 1964, the son of Robert E. Jeffords and Shirley E.M. Erickson Jeffords. His father’s career in the U.S. Air Force took the family to various bases, and through his travels where Steven developed a deep love for the outdoors. As a young boy, he enjoyed hiking and camping with his dog and riding his bike. Steven was also an avid reader. He enjoyed reading mostly futuristic science fiction and owned a large collection of books he read and reread as a young boy until the time he passed.
Steven joined the National Guard in high school to fulfill his goal of becoming a helicopter mechanic. He later joined the U.S. Army as an OH-58 Crew Chief. He went on to become a UH-1 Huey Pilot and later a UH-60 Black Hawk Maintenance Test Pilot. Steven retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years of service as a CW4. After retiring from the Army, Steven worked for Hopkinsville Community College as a math test proctor and then Ft. Campbell as a helicopter mechanic.
Steven met his wife, Laura, in high school. They were married in January 1987. Together they traveled to various U.S. Army posts, including Ft. Polk, LA, Ft. Lewis, WA, Ft. Rucker, AL, Vicenza, Italy, where their son Thomas was born, Ft. Carson, Colorado, where their daughter Emily was born, and finally Ft. Campbell, KY.
In Colorado, Steven enjoyed riding motocross, but his real passion was riding and racing his bicycles. He enjoyed mountain bike riding in Colorado and Kentucky. Steven enjoyed riding with his friends, but loved getting people on their bikes, no matter their skill level, and never judged how fast or slow they were. He just wanted everyone to enjoy bike riding as much as he did. It wasn’t uncommon for children in the neighborhood to stop and ask Steven for help tuning their bikes or fixing flats, which he did with great care and a smile.
In addition to his beloved mother, Shirley Jeffords, he was also preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Gunnar and Hildegard Erickson, and his nephews: Scott Jeffords and Timothy Jeffords.
Survivors in addition to his father: Robert E. (Betty) Jeffords of Kalispell, MT; his high school sweetheart and wife, Laura Jeffords, of 38 years of Hopkinsville, KY; his son: Thomas (Katlyn) Jeffords of Louisville, KY; his daughter: Emily (Philip) Frances of Bowling Green, KY; his brother: Robert C. (Kim) Jeffords of Kalispell, MT; his sisters: Julie Naethe of Kalispell, MT, Katrina Snediker of Spokane, WA and Kari McKitrick of Anchorage, AK; his precious grandson: Jude Jeffords; his several nieces and nephews.
Steven has asked his family to dedicate his ashes back to the earth. In place of a visitation or funeral, Steven has asked that his friends and family honor his life and memory by getting on a bicycle and riding, taking a walk in nature, or sitting quietly with an enjoyable book.
