Steven Gayle Hanley

Steven Gayle Hanley, age 62, died on Sunday, August 16, at his home in Little Rock. Steven was born in Malvern, Arkansas, on November 14, 1952, to Wallace and Inez Hanley. Though he hated the word "handicapped", from birth Steven's life challenge was cerebral palsy; he was destined to never walk without the aid of crutches. From the earliest age Steven determined not to let his disability hold him back. For several years during his childhood, Steven lived at the Easter Seals center in Jacksonville and then in Hillcrest, and also benefitted from the care he received at Arkansas Children's Hospital. He graduated from Malvern High School in 1974, and followed his passion for history by earning a bachelor's degree from Henderson State University in 1978. Steven moved to Little Rock in 1981, and promptly began volunteering in regular shifts at the Old State House and at Arkansas Children's Hospital; he was recognized in 1982 with the KARK-4 Community Service Award. Steve went on to work as an employee at Arkansas Children's hospital, for a total of more than 20 years' service in several departments, including the Chaplain's Office, Biomedical Services, and in the PR department, where he assisted with a number of hospital publications. Steven interviewed dozens of former ACH employees and patients, while completing two editions of the history of ACH, honoring the institution's 90th and 100th anniversaries. Steven is perhaps best-known for his byline in the Features section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which for almost 30 years appeared with the column, "Arkansas Postcard Past." Steven was the author or co-author of a dozen books of Arkansas visual history. Over the years Steven put into print some 10,000 historic Arkansas images, more than any other person in the state's history, and likely more images than all other authors combined. Steven was a long-time member of the Western Writers of America and for many years attended their annual conferences across the western US. At this year's WWA conference in Lubbock, Steven spoke on a panel covering the history of the Alamo, his passion since boyhood, and one in which he was a recognized expert. Steven travelled extensively throughout the United States, including visits with his brother Ray to all the Presidential Libraries and Presidential Birthplaces. He also had a host of friends in Arkansas and around the country, who shared his enthusiasm for movies, politics, and history, especially Teddy Roosevelt and all things western. Steven was a longstanding member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, and previously enjoyed the community and ministry of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Park Place Baptist Church, and Fellowship Bible Church. Steven was predeceased by his parents, Wallace Ray Hanley and Inez Ashcraft Hanley. He is survived by his brother, Ray Hanley and wife Diane of Little Rock; by his cousins Inez Kernick of Benton, Louisiana, and Gayle Kernick of Carmichael, California; by his nieces Rachel (Dave) Glenn of Benton, Arkansas, and Emily (Charlie) Staples of Melbourne, Florida, and his nephew Joseph Hanley of Little Rock; and by his great-nephew Jude Glenn, great-niece Charlotte Glenn, and two great-nephews due in October. Funeral services are under the care of Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, with visitation on Friday, August 21 from 6-8 p.m. at 1921 Main Street, NLR. Memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 22 at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 N. Shackleford Rd., LR. Interment will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Rockport Cemetery in Malvern, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hot Spring County Museum, 302 East 3rd St, Malvern, Ark. 72104. Online tributes or shared memories may be posted on Steven's page at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.