With heavy hearts and profound sadness, the family and friends of Steve Cloyd announce his passing following his disappearance during the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Washington County, Tennessee. After days of tireless searching and an outpouring of community support, Steve’s remains were found near the 2000 block of Highway 107, offering his family a measure of closure in the wake of unimaginable loss.
Steve Cloyd, a beloved husband, family man, and community member, was reported missing after the severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene swept through the region. In the days that followed, search crews, first responders, neighbors, and volunteers came together in a determined and compassionate effort to bring him home. On Saturday, Washington County Sheriff Keith Sexton confirmed that Steve’s remains had been recovered during ongoing debris clearing efforts and positively identified by the medical examiner.
“Our investigators worked with the medical examiner to identify Steve,” Sheriff Sexton said. “We continue to pray for the Cloyd family, and we know this brings them some closure.”
Steve’s wife, Keli Cloyd, took to Facebook to share the heartbreaking update and express deep gratitude to the search crews, first responders, and members of the community who supported the family during their darkest hours. In her emotional message, Keli acknowledged the unwavering love and solidarity shown by strangers who became like family.
“You all came together for a family you didn’t know,” she wrote. “You all were there every step of the way to ensure we had what we needed. You all lent an ear, a shoulder, caring and loving hearts, true and deep sentiments and emotions—and just as you all adopted our family, you became our family equally so. We are so happy to welcome you all to the CLOYD family with pride and love in our hearts.”
Steve Cloyd will be remembered not just for the tragic circumstances of his passing, but for the life he lived—one marked by kindness, quiet strength, and deep devotion to those he loved. He was a man of character and heart, always ready to lend a helping hand and never far from a warm smile or encouraging word. To know Steve was to experience the genuine goodness he carried with him every day.
As the Washington County community continues to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Cloyd family’s strength and grace in the face of sorrow has been a testament to the power of love, faith, and unity. The search for the other missing person, Nancy Tucker, remains ongoing, and the community continues to hold her loved ones in prayer.
Steve’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him, and the legacy of compassion he inspired in the community will never be forgotten.
“Grief is the price we pay for love, and in loving Steve so deeply, we honor the beautiful soul he was. May he rest in peace.”