Nathan Chaney

Mar 06, 2024

Nathan Price Chaney, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed from this life on August 27, 2023 at CHI-St. Vincent hospice care. He was only 43, and stood tall and brave in the face of stage 4 colon cancer.

Nathan grew up in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, with parents Terri and Don Chaney and brother, Taylor Chaney. He cherished the fun they had with friends in the cabin on Riverside. And he loved playing on the gravel bars on the Ouachita River with his dogs and his trusty canoe.

Nathan graduated in 2001 with a computer systems engineering degree from the University of Arkansas. He cheered on his Razorbacks while there. He reminisced often about Corliss and the ‘94 champs. #WPS

In 2004, Nathan graduated from Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, with a focus on patent and technology law. It was there that he met Hilary Martin, of Norfolk, Virginia, and they spent three blissful years in Virginia exploring the backroads of the Blue Ridge with black lab, Trooper. Law school friends are still dear to Nathan’s whole family. #RTR, that’s for Josh and Wynn Jones of Birmingham.

Nathan spent about a dozen years in law firm work, including a partnership with Mark Henry, of Fayetteville, that made Nathan a better lawyer, friend, and husband.

Nathan settled in 2016 in Little Rock. He worked in a collegial group as research contracts attorney at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Mark Hagemeier was another terrific sherpa for Nathan as he grew in his career and personal development. Nathan loved the life he built in Little Rock with wife, Hilary, and sons, River (15) and Carter (11). He especially loved relaxing in the hot tub out back while stargazing. He told the boys to find him there when they need guidance.

Nathan completed a Masters in Information Science in 2020 while working at UAMS. In 2022, Nathan leveraged patent law, privacy, and machine learning experience to secure the perfect role for him: Senior Counsel for Artificial Intelligence at Walmart. That trajectory got cut short by his December 2022 colon cancer diagnosis.

Nathan received excellent care for cancer at UAMS, and eventually fell into the graceful embrace of Arkansas Hospice when treatment stopped working. Hospice allowed him to do things he loved in a peaceful manner, and to spend time with the people he loved most. He got that one last sunset on Beaver Lake in July. He enjoyed watching the women’s World Cup. He ate his favorite sweet potato fries with homemade remoulade just before he entered the hospital.

We would urge all of you to enlist hospice when you need them: the sooner the better. They answer questions you never knew you had. They care for their patients as if they were family. It is “love insurance.”

What Nathan loved (not an exhaustive list, by far):

Nathan was blessed with an army of friends and family, and the overwhelming love that you demonstrated made him weak in the knees. Nathan was happiest when those around him were having fun. He knew how to have crazy good fun. So now, keep him in mind when you are having crazy good FUN! We will keep his Facebook page active for you to post about all your happiest times and photos.

He sought to leave a legacy of strength, self-discipline, lifelong learning, and compassion. https://startingstrength.com/ Confidence in one’s intelligence, self-care, talking things through, setting boundaries, and letting others know you appreciate them are some things that got him through difficult times in the last year. He simply adores River and Carter and all they will dream about and achieve. He wants us all to seize the day, take the trip, and use therapy when you feel the need. Don’t put off your joy for one more minute! Find your happy, and do that. And y’all, get the colonoscopy (the earlier the better).

As he told us before he passed, he will catch us on the other side. His love remains, like Johnny Cash said, across the universe divide. Hilary is eternally grateful for the fate that brought them together, and for the transcendental love she feels at this time. Each time a friend calls, she feels Nathan’s protection and care. So keep calling:)

Bob Barker passed away one day before Nathan. The Price is Right brought delight to Nathan in his last six months. Happy Gilmore, which starred Bob Barker, also provided a view of Nathan’s happy place. So Bob says, Nathan Chaney, “come on down!”

Now rest, Nathan, and enjoy a place free from pain and overflowing with infinite knowledge. Keep the drinks cold and the bonfires burning for us. We cannot wait to see your beautiful face again.

Flowers certainly are wonderful and appreciated, but please consider a gift in Nathan’s name to: the Humane Society of Pulaski County (https://warmhearts.org/); Arkansas Hospice (https://www.arkansashospice.org/ ); Washington and Lee University School of Law (https://law.wlu.edu/ ); or the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at UAMS (https://cancer.uams.edu/).

A celebration of life for Nathan and Hilary’s friends will take place from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm at his home on October 28, 2023. Come for the college football and barbecue, and stay for the jello shots! If it’s giving Halloween vibes for you, feel free to dress up. Right, Ashley??? LOL.

The address is 4214 Stoneview Court in Little Rock. Please rsvp with number of guests to Hilary at [email protected]. Use “NPC party” as the subject line. The plan is for adults only. Please RSVP by September 20, 2023.

Events for the extended family (and their friends) will take place in Arkadelphia and Norfolk, respectively, at a later date.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Ste B1, Little Rock, AR 72205.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, you may do so using the “Tribute Wall” tab. www.arkansascremation.com

Categories: Obituaries

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