Kenneth Wayne Hadley

On November 13, 2025, Dr. Kenneth Wayne Hadley (known to everyone who loved him as “Kenny” or “Dr. Ken”) left this world for a better one.

Born in Oklahoma City on October 4, 1959, to Billie Jo and J.D. Hadley, Kenny graduated from Heritage Hall High School in 1977 and was accepted to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He transferred to Oklahoma State University, where he completed his appointment in the Air Force Reserves and played as an offensive lineman on the OSU football team from 1978 to 1979. During his time at OSU, Kenny met the love of his life, Melissa Martin. The two were married on May 25, 1985, at Village Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, the same church where his parents were married, and they went on to have three children: Maeghan, Maddison, and Allston.

Kenny earned his PhD in Psychology in 1990 and worked as the psychologist for Moore Public Schools for twelve years. He later joined the State of Oklahoma becoming the head psychologist for the SoonerStart program, where he served for twenty years until his retirement in 2023.

During these years, he also provided private mental health and behavioral counseling for both children and adults. Kenny truly loved his work. Helping others was the core of who he was. He welcomed any patient, regardless of their ability to pay, because he believed that seeking help was one of the strongest and bravest things a person could do. His “kids” at Soonerstart meant the world to him and watching them grow and succeed-no matter their diagnosis, neurodivergence, or disability-brought him great joy. Kenny served as a psychologist on site after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, assisting families who lost children in the tragedy, and later receiving a Presidential award for his service. While it was one of the hardest things he ever did, he was proud to have been able to help others in their darkest of times.

To those who met him only in passing, Kenny was a quiet soul, content to sit back and observe the world with a psychologist’s thoughtful mind. But those who knew him best understood that he had a wicked sense of humor. A running joke in the Hadley family is that “we love hard, and we laugh harder”-and usually that laughter came from Kenny. He also had many passions in life. He was a devoted Chicago Bears and OSU football fan, and he loved fishing, hunting, cooking (especially smoking meats), golf, and hockey. He had a deep love of music and one of the most eclectic musical tastes you could imagine (his trivia knowledge of ’70s and ’80s rock and metal was unmatched.) His children will tell you that most of their favorite bands to this day, were introduced to them by their dad. He also had near-perfect pitch and could play countless musical instruments.

More than anything, Kenny cherished being with, and supporting, his children. He was the world’s best “horse show and livestock show dad”, “cheerleading dad”, and “football dad”. No matter what they pursued or how well they did it, he was always in the front row, cheering them on. And while he loved his children with his whole heart, nothing compared to how much he adored his grandchildren. Gibson, Ellie, and Kira were the lights of his life. Every moment spent with them was treasured, and he wanted nothing more than to share as much time with them as possible.

Though Kenny’s body failed him in these past few years, he knew that God alone was in control and lived each day to the fullest of his abilities. As a family, we are grateful that he is no longer suffering and is fully healed. While we wish he were still here with us, we know his love will remain with us always.

Kenny was preceded in death, and greeted in heaven by his mother, Billie Jo Hadley; his aunt and uncle, Jane, and Ski Wisniewski; his aunt and uncle, Sue, and Bob Tompkins; his cousin, Scott Tompkins; and his grandparents.

Kenny is survived and dearly missed by his father, J.D. Hadley, of Edmond, Oklahoma; his beloved wife of over forty years, Melissa Hadley, of Edmond, Oklahoma; and his children: Maeghan Olsen (and husband, Justin) of Bethel Acres, Oklahoma; Maddison Hill (and husband, Alex) of Edmond, Oklahoma; and Allston Hadley (and fiancée, Audrey Plunkett) of Edmond, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his three beautiful grandchildren, Gibson Olsen, Ellie Hill, and Kira Hill; his aunt, Daisy Gibson of Edmond, Oklahoma; and his cousins: Wayne Wisniewski (and wife, Kristie) of College Station, Texas; Mitzi Vavrick (and husband, Bob) of Twin Lakes, Wisconsin; Nancy Allen (and husband, Chris) of Gracemont, Oklahoma; and Steve (and wife, Julie) of Nolanville, Texas.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 19, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel in Edmond, OK. Interment will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Lakeview Cemetery in Marietta, OK.