Joseph Willard Huckaby, a man who truly marched to the beat of his own drum, died peacefully on July 19, 2026, in his Destin, Florida home.
Joe was born on October 5, 1984, in Russell Springs, Kentucky, to Terry and Rose Huckaby, making them first-time parents. He was eventually raised in Jamestown, having to share a bedroom with his annoying younger brother until he was 17 when his parents finally added on to the house. During his formative years, Joe was a boy of many talents, fixing vehicles, riding 4-wheelers, and playing various sports from golf to swimming to soccer.
Joe eventually fixed his athletic talents on football and baseball. Despite being called “the worst practice player I’ve ever seen” by nearly every one of his coaches, Joe was the epitome of a “gamer.” Joe always turned it on when the lights were the brightest, whether it was kicking a game-winning (and school record) 43 yard field goal as time expired in the rain-soaked 2002 homecoming game against Somerset, or hitting a game-opening double late in the 2003 12th region baseball final. In fact, Joe has the only state championship ring in the Huckaby family as a member of the 2003 RCHS co-ed cheerleading squad, a feat he never let his younger siblings forget.
After high school, Joe earned a football scholarship to Campbellsville University where he played defensive line. Joe eventually graduated from Western Kentucky University in construction management, before beginning a career as an estimator. Joe eventually worked for companies near Nashville and in Washington D.C., providing services for jobs all across the country. More recently, he began his own handy-man business in the Destin area, scratching an entrepreneur and self-employment itch he always had.
Despite his athletic and professional accolades, Joe’s greatest achievement in life were his children, Ansley and Cooper. They meant the absolute world to him and he would move mountains if and when they needed him. Joe always loved watching Ansley and Cooper play basketball and soccer, frequently nudging his neighbor with a wink when one of them made an exceptional play (or when they knocked an opponent down). While he harbored immense sadness that he didn’t have more time with Ansley and Cooper, he died at peace knowing they are intelligent, resilient young people.
Since February 2025, Joe battled an aggressive form of brain cancer. He did so valiantly, with love in his heart and a deep faith in God. While he has passed away, he didn’t lose his battle with cancer. As Norm Macdonald’s comedic bit goes, Joe didn’t lose his battle because the cancer died when Joe died. So, the battle between Joe and cancer was technically a tie. This is important because, based on all of Joe’s stories from his younger years, this means he died undefeated in fights. Not even cancer could beat him (and his younger brother sure as heck never did).
Joe was a funny, loving man of faith that will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his children, Ansley Huckaby and Cooper Huckaby; wife Shayla Huckaby of Destin, Florida; father Terry Huckaby of Russell Springs; siblings Erin (John) Luttrell of Russell Springs, Nick (Alicia) Huckaby of Monclova, Ohio, and Megan (Daniel) Eck of Florence, Alabama; mother to his children, Katie Hirschinger; nephews Aidan Huckaby and John Thomas Eck; niece Adelaide Eck; and two fuzzy puppies, Phoebe and Jelly.
Joe is preceded in death by his mother, Rose Huckaby, and his beloved golden retriever, Maisey.
Memorial service will be Saturday, August 8th at 4 PM at Bernard Funeral Home, in Russell Springs, Kentucky.
The family will receive friends from 2PM until the time of the memorial service on Saturday, August 8th at Bernard Funeral Home, in Russell Springs, Kentucky
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider giving to the custodial accounts set up for the benefit Joe’s children, Ansley and Cooper. To do so, please call Joshua Frost with Edward Jones at (606) 388-9069 or send checks/money to Edward Jones, c/o Joshua Frost, 36 Joe T. Pettey Drive, Russell Springs, KY 42642, with checks made out to Edward Jones and the memo line populated with “Ansley and Cooper Huckaby”.
Bernard Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements. An online guestbook is available at www.bernardfuneralhome.com.