On April 17, Charles (Steve) Stevenson Hyre passed away peacefully in his home after a long illness. He was two days shy of his 79th birthday.

A blue-eyed charmer, Steve had an irrepressible love of life, taking extraordinary joy in time spent with family and friends, good food of all kinds (though we could debate how “good” potted meat really is), music and art, great books, and a warm day sitting in the sunshine. He was well-known for his sharp intellect, playful humor, immense curiosity, and quick wit. A beloved father, grandfather, brother, friend, and mentor to many, he is deeply loved and already profoundly missed.

Steve was born in the tiny mountain town of Circleville, West Virginia. At a young age, he was introduced to the magic of music and entertaining. Steve saved money from his paper route to buy his first guitar – a classic Kay that he would pick up throughout his whole life. Some of his daughters’ earliest memories are of him playing old folk songs or singing sweet melodies he wrote just for them.

An ambitious student and voracious reader, Steve was a first-generation college graduate, earning a scholarship to attend Shepherd College and later Coppin State for his Masters and PhD work. He studied education, cementing a path to some of his most meaningful professional experiences.

Through his work at Appalachian Educational Laboratory, Steve found incredible fulfillment sharing new models of experiential learning that addressed systemic inequities. Steve became an early adopter and believer in the power of technology, eventually founding a hardware company. He later pivoted to software development and sales.

Steve was a one-of-a-kind character: a brilliant mind with a goofy demeanor and a deeply creative soul. He was an educator, researcher, programmer, and philosopher. He delighted in times shared with friends and fostered a lifelong commitment to his progressive ideals. He is survived by his beloved daughters Christina (Marc) and Stephanie (John) and his adored grandsons, Jack and Benny Charles. He is also survived by his dear brother Thomas (Kathy), his extended family, and all the friends he amassed during a life lived to the fullest. He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Gordon Hyre, his mother, Mary Grace Nelson Hyre, and his ex-wife turned best friend Ann Winn Childs Hyre.

For those who want to honor Steve’s memory, his family asks that donations be made in his name to the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home (https://kvfh.org/donate.php) or Kanawha Valley Hospice Care (https://www.hospicecarewv.org/make-a-donation/). A Celebration of Life will be planned for later this summer.