He was retired from Clearwater Paper Company after more than 30 years of service. He was a paper maker and lab technician. Steve was a lifelong Baptist and regularly attended St. Mark Catholic Church with his wife, but called First Baptist Church of Monticello his home church towards the end of his days. Steve was a storied turkey hunter, traveling wherever he could in search of the perfect bird, always looking for a new place to hunt. He also loved hunting deer; fishing; road trips wherever they took him; spending time with his family, especially his beloved grandchildren; tinkering around the house and working in his garden. Steve was a fixture in his hometown of Monticello, known for his warm smile, interest in others, and his ability to never meet a stranger. Steve will be sorely missed by so many.
He is survived by his wife, Sara M. Simpson Hartness of Monticello; children, Kelly Jo Hartness Derryberry and husband Stormy of Monticello, Kerry Stephen Hartness and wife Melissa of Monticello, Maxwell Eadus Sawyer and wife Lauren Brewer of Bella Vista, and Michael Lafayette Sawyer and wife Kari of Star City; a god son, Benjamin Alan Alexander; grandchildren, Makenzie Lynn Derryberry of Russellville, Lauren Elizabeth Derryberry of Monticello, Annistyn Grace Hartness of Monticello and Wyatt Lafayette Sawyer of Star City; and a cousin (like a brother), Rama Miller and wife Charlotte of Maumelle; along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Chapel with Rev. Kelly Jones officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Monticello. There will be a visitation Wednesday evening from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. There will also be a separate memorial mass celebrated at St. Mark Catholic Church at a date to be announced. The family asks in lieu of flowers donations be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 413 North Main Street, Monticello, AR 71655 or Family House, 5308 Liberty Ave, Pittsburg, PA 15224, https://familyhouse.org/donate.
You can sign Steve's guestbook registry on this page
Condolences(38)
Terrie E Briant
Monticello, AR Monday, May 27, 2024 To Sara and family: I'm so sorry for your loss. May God comfort, and give you all the peace that comes with knowing that Mr. Hartness is now on the right hand side of his savior, Jesus Christ. Ya'll have my deepest sympathy, and prayers.Sandra Pryor
Conway, AR Saturday, May 25, 2024 So sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. He was a nice person and would always greet you with a smile .Sorry for your loss,
Sandra Pryor
Dennis & Joy Holley
Monticello, AR Saturday, May 25, 2024 Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.Gail Kizer
Dermott, AR Friday, May 24, 2024 Steve was such a great guy. I have known him since he was a child. I worked at the Courthouse and his Dad's office (Revenue Office) was next to mine. Steve would come to his dad's office after school and would spend most of his time in my office. We had so much fun. In recent years, it was such a treat to see him in town. He always had time to talk. Steve will certainly be missed.Sharon Shook McIntyre
Monticello, AR Thursday, May 23, 2024 Sara and Family of Steve,When I returned to Monticello a few years ago from Florida I saw Steve in Walmart. I must say I had not seen him in many years and did not recognize him at first. I had no idea that he had health issues. I am so sorry to hear about Steve. I knew Steve all of my life and can proudly say he was my friend. I worked with his mother at Burlington for years. When Steve worked for Williams Music Co here in Monticello my husband, Delton, trained Steve the tricks of the trade in the gaming and arcade industry. He and Delton were good friends, Steve had a great respect for my husband as did Delton for Steve. You all have been a constant in my prayers after I learned a couple of months ago his health had become grave. Please know that I continue to lift all of you in prayer. God has gained another angel.
Sincerely,
Sharon
odell and jewell davis
Monticello, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 A friend we will miss but won't forget his smile and caring spirit always concerned about othersBettye Jones
Monticello, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Sorry for your loss. Mr. Hartness was a very nice Gentleman. He brought us tomatoes from his garden for our food pantry and also purchased food items to be given. God bless you!!!J H GREEN
mont., AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 hope to see later johnJohn and Jill Ogles
North Little Rock, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Sara, thinking of you and condolences to you and your family. I will always remember your oral argument in St. Louis and Steve was there and then we went to eat at Maggie O'Brien's. Steve was so proud.James and Belinda Wells
Monticello, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Sara,James and I are deeply sorry for your loss. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Please accept our sincere condolences.
Arlene Ellis Russell
Monticello, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 We are sure going to miss you, Steve. You brightened our days and enriched our lives. ❤️🙏A Great Tree Falls
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold
caves.
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
-By Maya Angelou
BRUCE KIZER
Dermott, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 To Sara and family, I am so sorry. Steve was one of the good guys. He will be missed by many. My prayers are with you all.Laci Harris
Monticello, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Sara and Family,I am so sorry for your loss. Sending thoughts and prayers to you all during this difficult time.
Laci Harris
Janice Gladden Wiggam
Hot Springs Village, AR Wednesday, May 22, 2024 I am so sorry to hear about Steve and have really lifted you all in prayer durning his illness.May God be with you all.
With love & sympathy,
Janice (Gladden) Wiggam
Stephen and Michelle Gilliam
Rison, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Sara and family, our deepest condolences to you all. Steve was a good friend and will definitely be missed.Kim and David Hoffman
Augusta, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Sara,We just heard about your dear Steve. Please accept our deepest condolences. We will be thinking of you in the coming days. With love, Kim and David
Lisa and Cliff Gibson
Monticello, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Our condolences to the family. Steve was special to us in many ways.Debbie Ashcraft
Sherwood, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Dear Sara and Family,I am so saddened to learn of Steve's passing. I pray you find comfort in Jesus's promises of everlasting life. May you treasure the moments you shared and celebrate his life and influence. Keep his smile forever in your heart!
MARK ALLEN
McGehee, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Sara, please accept our heartfelt condolences. We are so saddened to hear of Steve’s passing. We know his memory will continue to live on through his loved ones.Mark and Lisa Allen
Theresa McGaha
McGehee, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 My heart hurts for you, Sara, and the rest of the family! Steve was a fixture in my life for many years at work and took me on my first turkey hunt! I still laugh at him telling the story about it and how hard I was breathing when I killed that turkey! I always loved (and envied a little too) his ability to tell a good story and make you laugh. John and I saw him a couple of months ago in Wal-Mart and enjoyed catching up on what we had all been doing. Steve will truly be missed by so many people!You and the rest of the family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
William Pennington
Monticello, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Thoughts and prayers to the familyJohn Stone
Houston, TX Tuesday, May 21, 2024 I am deeply saddened to learn of Steve's passing. When Steve was a little child, he lived with his parents next door to my family on the Dermott highway. Even though I was several years older, we became playmates and spent many hours playing and roaming around our land. He was almost like a little brother to me. Back then, we called him "Stevie" much to his chagrin later in life. Although we had lost touch over the years, I will always remember our happy years as children together. May the peace of Christ be with Steve's family and friends during this time.Bubba Adcock
Rogers, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Sara, I don’t know how to say all the many things that could be said about Steve…we go back some 60 or so years. Sunday school, Little League, many years working together….it goes on and on. He was a great friend and ALWAYS true to his word! I’ll be thinking of you and your family and how he’s going to be missed. He was loved by anyone that knew him!Suzanne Leonard
Monticello, AR Tuesday, May 21, 2024 I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Steve's passing. I loved for him to stop by City Drug for an afternoon story and talk. It was always interesting to listen to what he was up to and hear a funny story to go with it. I think we all will miss his City Drug stop by! My prayers go out to Sara and his family! He was truly a sweet person, that always made your day a little brighter!Andy Briant
Monticello, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 Sara I am so sorry for you and Steve's entire families' great loss. A great guy who will be sorely missed. Prayers for your peace and comfort. R.I.P. Steve.Margaret Norton
Little Rock, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 Sara and family, I am so sorry for your loss. All of you and Steve have been in my prayers for many weeks and still are. Thinking of you.Margaret Norton
Timothy & Diane Forrest
Monticello, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 To Hartness family,We are sadden by Steve's passing. May god comfort your family. When we ran into him when at Walmart he would alway check to see how I was doing, even when he wasn't feeling his best.
I'm proud to call him a friend and he will be missed by all.
Lifting your family in prayers,
Tim & Diane Forrest
Emily Bendinelli West
Hamburg, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 His sweet smile and treating anyone (even me) like a long time friend was special to me. You will never know what you two have meant to my girl and Silas and to me. That smile and pure heart have left a great legacy.I love y’all
Emily
Irvin and Vickie Charles
McGehee, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 Sara and family, please accept our heartfelt condolences. We are so saddened to hear of Steve’s passing. We know how much he loved his family and his memory will continue to live on through his loved ones.Ricky and Vera Owens
Monticello, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 To Sara and and the entire Hartness family. Steve touched many lives of which one was ours. He was always bringing us fish or eggs, he was one nice guy. He will be so missed and we extend to you our deepest condolences.Brenda Jiles
Monticello, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 Sara so sorry to hear of Steve’s passing, he was a good man and he will be missed.Prayers that you receive comfort during this difficult time.
Laura Bodiford
Monticello, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 Sarah I'm so sorry about Steve. We we weren't close friends. He would come in my checkout lane at Walmart. We would have short conversations. He will be missed.Marshall and Sheila Morgan
Dumas, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 Our deepest condolences to the family. Steve was a good friend and co-worker, he’ll be greatly missed.Jana and Shawn Wright
Monticello, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 You will be greatly missed by all! We were so blessed to call you friend! Prayers for all of your family!Kent Davis
Maumelle, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 He was a long time Friend, Our Dads were the same age, I’m Sorry PrayersMelanie Rawls
Monticello, AR Monday, May 20, 2024 Sara I’m so sorry to read this. Steve fought a good fight and he has finished. Steve and I served on park committee together under Mayor Anderson is when I met him. I will miss our conversations when we ran into each other. Prayers will give you the strength you need 🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️Gary Newton
Monticello, AR Sunday, May 19, 2024 To Sara and the entire Hartness family, Brenda and I extend our deepest condolences. Steve was a great friend to all who knew him and will be missed by all.Kay Worbington
Monticello, AR Sunday, May 19, 2024 To all of Steve's family: I am so sorry for your great loss. I am praying for the family that God will comfort you at this sad time. Steve and I called each other 'Cuz' because we are distant cousins on the Stephenson side. Sincerely, Kay Worbington