Kayla Ivy Andrews

Kayla Ivy Andrews, 22, tragically passed away on March 8, 2023.

In the summer of 2000, Kayla was born to Christina Stepp. Kayla’s prior residences were Rogersville, Tennessee, and Dallas, Texas. She graduated from high school with one year of ROTC. Her work history included automobile restoration and various service industries. In Kayla’s free time, she enjoyed art such as drawing. She loved dancing along to her favorite music tracks. During the cold, winter months, Kayla enjoyed winter sports activities and then in the summer, Kayla could be found at the beach or lake. She was known for her courageous spirit, kind heart, and strong personality. Her family and friends will miss her infectious laugh and beautiful smile.

Left to cherish Kayla’s memory are her parents Christina Stepp and Johnny Gulley of Hendersonville; siblings Jason Andrews and his wife Haley Gilliam of Rogersville, TN; Michael “Mikey” Justice, Madi Gulley of Morristown, TN; and Cheyenne Gulley also of Hendersonville, NC; niece Raylinn Andrews and nephew Bentley Greene; Aunt Serena Nooner and husband Bobby of Colorado Springs, CO; Uncle Alan Justin Stepp of Dallas, TX; and Cousin Jacob Nooner. Kayla also leaves behind her grandparents Jeanette Dunst and Russell Dunst of Gate City, VA; Jeffery Alan Stepp and Sheila Stepp of Dana, NC; great-grandparents Inez Caye Hoots of Kingsport, TN; Sandra Stepp of Dana, NC; Great-Aunts and Uncles Rick and Eileen Regnier of Jacksonville, FL; Darrell Lester and Esther Stepp of Raleigh, NC; Andrew and Linda Hoots of Kingsport, TN; Doug and Valerie Blackburn of Dana, NC; and Great-Great Aunts Dorothy “Dot” Hoots of Flat Rock, NC; Lillian Steele of Oakland, MD.

In addition, Kayla will be fondly remembered by cousins and special friends Babette Steele and Sharyl Steele of Morristown, TN; Shaelyn McDonald of Boone, NC; Amy Regnier of Frisco, Colorado; Randall Regnier of St. John’s, FL; Ricky Reginer of Jacksonville, FL; Brian Stepp of Scottsdale, AZ; and Jaclyne Mersinger of St. Louis, MO; Jessica Deaton of Elizabethton, TN; Andy Hoots of Kingsport, TN; Sarah Anderson of Kingsport, TN; Amber Salazar of Colombia, SC; Scott Steel of Salsbury, NC; and Geff Hoots of El Paso, TX; and many other extended cousins and family members.

Kayla is reunited in Heaven with her sister Alyssa Justice, great-grandfathers Thomas Hoots and Guy Stepp; great-aunt Clara Hoots Thomas; great-uncle David Hoots and cousins Meagan Caldwell and Chelsea Bishop.

The family would like to extend their appreciation for the care, love, and kind memorial contributions expressed to them during the tremendous loss of Kayla.

A funeral service will be held at 12 pm on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the Kirby Memorial Chapel of Shuler Funeral Home with a visitation held one hour prior; Bryan Melton of Mount Moriah Baptist Church and David Stanford of MudCreek Baptist Church of Hendersonville. A graveside will follow the funeral service at the Stepp Round Hill Cemetery of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Pallbearers will be Jason Andrews, Mikey Justice, Lester Stepp, Andrew Hoots, Doug Blackburn, and Rick Regnier.

Mountain Moriah Baptist Church, 635 Gilliam Mountain Rd. Hendersonville, NC 28792, will provide a meal available to friends and family after the graveside service.

On Friday 10 March 2023, more than 100 doctors, nurses, and staff of Pardee Hospital showed appreciation for Kayla’s decision to be an organ donor by participating in an Honor Walk. This video was filmed by long-time family friend Richard Allen: Honor Walk for Kayla Ivy Andrews