Someone has said: “I realize there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.”

Johnny Steve Babb had been married to his wife, Carolyn Ann Babb, 44 years, when she died in October 2016. Steve died 14-1/2 months later at the age of 72. “I honestly believed my dad died of a broken heart. My mother was the love of his life. He loved her so much and took such good care of her. He was miserable without her. It was hard for him to let her go,” said Steve’s daughter, Sherry Stevens.

Steve Babb was just a simple man, but he gave so much to living. He made each day fun, and he played a lot. Steve was a hard worker, but he took time to play golf, hunt, fish, spend time with his grandbabies, and he spent a lot of time at Happy Valley High School.

He was high on the list of being No. 1 booster for the Happy Valley Warriors, a school he had loved since his high school days. A graduate of Happy Valley High, Steve was a long-time member of the school’s booster club and attended almost every basketball and football game. He was a booster club member at both Happy Valley Middle School and Happy Valley High School.

Steve’s daughter recalled that he at one time had helped with the football team at Happy Valley Elementary and followed those players all through middle and high school. “He spent part of every summer at the high school working on the football field, getting it ready for the playing season. He was so dedicated to Happy Valley sports,” Sherry said.

When Steve died, among the many memorials was a donation in his memory from the Happy Valley High Softball Team.

Steve also enjoyed playing golf. “He played in a lot of tournaments,” said Sherry, who noted that several years ago her father racked up a hole in one while playing at Pine Oaks Golf Club.

When he wasn’t playing golf, he was hunting or fishing. “He liked to hunt deer, and often went on hunting trips to Nashville. He also enjoyed fishing with his grandsons, Steve and Jonathan. Sometimes he would take Shalee, a granddaughter,” Sherry shared.

Steve had two daughters, Sherry and Tina, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Listed among his survivors was a special friend, Carl Roberts. “They went everywhere together. They were as close as brothers,” Sherry shared.

Steve had retired as a crane operator at Omni Source.

He was also a U.S. Army veteran, having served during the Vietnam Conflict.

Every day was a fun day for Steve Babb. He made it that way.

But, it’s true, when all is said and done, grief is the price we pay for love.