Stephen Patrick Hacala, Jr.

Stephen Patrick Hacala Jr., 24, of Rogers, Arkansas passed away Sunday, April 3, 2016. He was born on May 2, 1991 in Shaker Heights, Ohio to Stephen "Steve" Hacala and Margaret "Betty" Smirnoff Hacala. He graduated from Bentonville High School in 2009 and went on to attend the University of Arkansas, graduating with a BSBA degree in Marketing in 2013. Stephen was incredibly intelligent, driven and gifted. He was an accomplished, skilled, and talented musician with a passion for the guitar. After college, Stephen was awarded the 35th Anniversary Guitar Scholarship to Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. While there, he spent time studying guitar and furthering his musical knowledge and gifts. He returned from California and explored the corporate realm working for GE Capital in Oklahoma City. One year ago he returned to Northwest Arkansas to further his education and during this time found his vocation in teaching and sharing his love of guitar and music with others. For the past seven months he taught guitar at Arkansas Music Conservatory in Bentonville. Stephen had a thirst for knowledge and truth and through that he developed a personal relationship with God. Stephen had a beautifully intense energy about him that allowed him to connect deeply with and touch all those that he met. Stephen is dearly loved by his family and friends and his spirit and memory will continue to live on through all of them. He is survived by his parents, Steve and Betty Hacala, of Rogers; two sisters, Christina Hacala and Lauren Hacala; paternal grandparents, John and Jean Hacala of Galloway, N.J.; maternal grandfather, Michael Smirnoff and wife, Jean of Pine Bush, N.Y.; maternal grandmother, Margaret Fairbrother and husband, Patrick of Sunset Beach, N.C. and many other family members, friends, and students. Visitation will be Monday April 11th, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1416 West Poplar Street, Rogers, Arkansas 72758. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday April 12th, 1 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1416 West Poplar Street, Rogers, Arkansas 72758. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made in memory of Stephen Hacala for music and guitar education for students K-12 in the Bentonville Public Schools to: Bentonville Public Schools Foundation, 500 Tiger Blvd., Bentonville, Ark. 72712. www.bentonvilleschoolfoundation.org. Designate as Memorial to Stephen Hacala (in notes section if online payment or written on personal check); Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers. Words of comfort or memories may be shared at stockdalefuneral.com.