Kaelyn Marie Hathaway, 26, of Cherry Valley, IL passed away June 12, 2021 in Smyrna, TN. Kaelyn was born May 16, 1995 in Rockford, IL the daughter of Bill and Cindy Hathaway.Kaelyn was a caring, kind soul, beautiful inside and out. Everyone who met and knew her loved her. Kaelyn graduated cum laude from Belvidere High School in 2013. She was active in bowling, track and cross country. She played trombone for 7 years for the Belvidere Bucs marching band and jazz band. Her senior year, she was the Bucs drum major.Following high school, she served her country with the United States Navy for 5-1/2 years. She had the honor to be part of the 922 Division playing trombone with the band at 3 PIR's (graduations) from boot camp, including her own. In the Navy, Kaelyn achieved the rank of 3rdClass Petty officer and was an Aviation Electronics Technician. After her service, Kaelyn went on to work for Carpenter Avionics, an aerospace company in Smyrna, TN. Kaelyn loved listening to and playing music, was a talented artist—especially her drawings, and was an aspiring photographer with a love for nature, animals, and personal photos of family, friends and her extended Navy family. Most notably, Kaelyn had a love for all creatures, big and small. She will forever be missed by anyone who had the opportunity to know her.

Kaelyn is loved and will be missed by her parents, Bill and Cindy; brother Tyler (Sam) Hathaway; grandmothers, Darlene Streit, Geri Gorham; aunts and uncles, Judy Lamping, Cindy Gorham, Karen (Bob) Morris, Barbara (Ken) Leenstra, Woody Hathaway as well as numerous cousins, family, friends, her cats Phoebe and Ellie, her doxie Otis, horse Maddie, and many, many other pets of all kinds. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Don Streit, Tuffy Gorham, Hap and Marge Hathaway; uncles, Jim Gorham, Gary Lamping; aunt, Carolyn Hathaway and her beloved golden, Daisy, her cat Jethro, and numerous other beloved pets.

The visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at Anderson Funeral & Cremation Services, 218 West Hurlbut, Belvidere, Illinois 61008. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2021at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be at Flora Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Kaelyn's honor may be made in care of the family to establish at a later date. To share a special memory or condolence, please visitwww.AndersonFCS.com.