Stephen Keith Hope

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life that was a tapestry of experiences, we celebrate the life of a treasured son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and true patriot. Stephen Keith Hope, known to most as "Keith," was born to the late James Charles Hope and Margaret Claudette (Meyer) Hope on December 31, 1953 at Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Kentucky. He departed this life on Sunday, May 17, 2026, surrounded by many who loved him under the care of Heart 2 Heart Hospice at Ascension Hospital.

He is survived by son Stephen James Hope (Molly) of Barrington, IL; daughters Sarah Guffey (Brent) of Robards, KY, and Amanda Hope of Sturgis, KY; step-daughter; Nicole Jones (Will) of Waverly, KY; his sisters Deborah Hope Dyer of Henderson, KY, and Teresa Hope Kloke (Tim) of Robards, KY; as well as ten grandchildren, three nieces, one nephew, and many other family members and friends who mourn his passing.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his great-nephew, Timothy John Martin Pike, and brother-in-law Ronald Jay Dyer.

Keith lived life his own way and was a man of great talents and aptitudes. He retired from Gibbs Die Casting, but had an extensive career with diverse jobs involving a variety of skills. He could repair anything relating to electrical, air conditioning, engines, welding, etc. He could offer ready advice on how to fix or improve most anything. No matter the job, Keith believed in working hard and providing for the people he loved.

Outside of work, Keith truly came alive outdoors or entertaining. He loved fishing, gardening, hunting, guns, cooking, canning, and good company. He could grow just about anything and was always sharing vegetables from his garden with neighbors and anyone who stopped by. If you knew Keith, you knew he loved to joke around and "mess with people." Making people laugh was one of his favorite things.

Keith was best known for his love of cooking and feeding people. He loved to host people, especially for Nascar races. Keith had a gift in the kitchen and could turn the simplest ingredients into a meal people would talk about long after the plates were cleared. For those unable to come to him, such as parents or older relatives, he delivered home cooked meals weekly. Despite his general distaste for funeral homes, if Keith heard of someone passing, he would be there dropping off a ham. Never known for using recipes, the foods that stand out in memory are his barbequed and smoked meats, pickled okra, jambalaya , chili, chocolate gravy, and peanut butter milkshakes.

Early in life, he lived in places such as Louisiana and Kuwait due to his father's work, but Kentucky was always his home. Keith was described by many as being generous to a fault and willing to give the shirt off his back to anyone. Nothing meant more to him than his family, especially his ten grandchildren. Spending time with them brought him genuine happiness. Those who knew him will deeply miss his stories, humor, cooking, and generous spirit. In short, he was hardworking, independent, loyal, and the kind of man who could make friends wherever he went.

Knowing his dislike of funeral homes and that he did not want people to gather to be sad, a private graveside service will be performed at a future date yet to be determined. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Saint Anthonys Hospice, Christian Outreach, or Riverside Church.