OBITUARY: Monica Light Harley

Monica Light Harley is best known for her warm, funny, loving and “larger than life” personality. With her bright smile and hazel eyes, she was just as beautiful on the outside, as she was on the inside. At gatherings, she would be the first person to greet someone at the door-it didn’t matter if it was her door or not! Her warm smile and her signature, “Hi, I’m Monica” lit up the room. She had a gift for spotting those in the crowd that could use a little extra attention, a smile or a hug. Being an extrovert, she had a knack for finding us introverts and pulling us out of our shell. She made everyone feel at ease, welcome, and loved.

Monica was born on November 7, 1966 to Sara Ellen and Joseph Hart Light at Nashville’s Baptist Hospital, and she grew up in Hendersonville. From an early age, Monica had self-determination and was driven to do her best. She excelled in both academics and athletics.

At Lakeside Elementary, a third-grade report card from Mrs. Hooper’s class shows straight A’s. And, even though Monica was extremely self-conscious about her “skinny” legs, she could make those legs fly! As an Eighth Grader at Hawkins Middle School, Monica set the one-mile school record with a time of 5 minutes and 39 seconds. Her record remained unbroken for many years. As a Commando at Hendersonville High School, she excelled in Gymnastics, Track, Softball, and Cheerleading. She could do backflips the entire length of the gymnasium floor and often amazed crowds with her high-flying aerial stunts. As a senior in the class of 1985, she was voted “Most School Spirit”. Being well known for her cheerleading abilities, Monica was selected to teach at the UCA summer camp at Tennessee Tech in 1986. And she was awarded a cheerleading scholarship to Austin Peay University.

In addition to being smart and athletic, Monica had a gift for art and design. She loved to draw, paint and work with felt. She created beautiful artwork and particularly loved creating our family Christmas cards and hand-painted ornaments. She was especially fond of decorating our Christmas tree. The trip to select the perfect tree was always a family adventure, and we would plan an entire day around it. Once the tree was home, she’d spend days working to get it just right and when she was finished: it was spectacular! She loved the idea of “home” and creating a loving, warm, and open home was her primary goal in life.

Monica had a special touch when decorating her home. She had a way of making the most simple things beautiful. She would think about a particular space and research ideas for months before she decided what she wanted to do. Then she’d create magic out of thrift store finds, antique shops, our (collective) elbow grease and many trips to Elder’s Hardware. Weekly trips to Import Flowers, her favorite, ensured our home was always adorned with fresh flowers. She was particular about every detail: from the candles to the type of light bulbs (she always insisted on having warm light.) Because Monica wanted our home to be filled with warmth, light, welcoming to our friends and a place our children always called home. It is beautiful to see. She also loved collecting, heart rocks, feathers, and had an eye for finding four-leaf clovers.

Monica loved making people laugh and her practical jokes were epic. Whenever visitors came to the house–whether it be workers for the lawn, the exterminator or the plumber, or just our friends, they were sure to be surprised by something Monica placed in a strategic spot just for them i.e. fake spiders, roaches, rubber snakes and even dog poo (her favorite!) During a recent construction project, she put a fake snake in the porta potty the contractors used. You should’ve seen them run! Another favorite of Monica’s was going in disguise by wearing fake teeth and wigs. She always kept them on hand and put them on at the most opportune times-usually when meeting someone for the first time. Once, a person who had only seen Monica when she had her fake teeth in, commented some years later, “Monica sure is pretty, I’m glad she finally got her teeth fixed!” She loved getting a laugh out of people.

But, most of all, Monica will be remembered by how she made others feel loved. She cared deeply for the people in her life and didn’t hold back when someone needed a hug, a smile, a shoulder to cry on or someone to just sit and listen. The years Monica spent in recovery made her tender, open and generous to everyone she met and the community of women she shared life with. Here’s an excerpt from a letter that beautifully captures Monica’s love for our family and her impact. (I am sharing this with permission from the writer and a few changes for privacy):

“I was drawn to Monica because of her clear dedication to her family. My own family reminds me a lot of yours–tight-knit and loving–and I wanted someone who understood that. I still remember how welcome and comfortable you made my husband and I feel when we came to your home. It was clear how much she adored all of you–she’d always text me updates on Eva’s jewelry making and photos of Matthew and Mary-Michael… And Monica always said she saw a lot of Mike in my own husband–his decency, his strength, his kindness. Y’all’s example helped me grow up in my own marriage.”

I was fortunate to meet Monica in 1997, at a mutual friend’s house for a Tennessee football game watch party. More accurately, Monica met me. (I’m an introvert and shy by nature and there was no way I was going to walk up to the prettiest girl in the room). And true to her name, Monica Light(s) up a room. If she was at a gathering, her smile was contagious. When she met someone for the first time, her “Hi, I’m Monica” was so warm and sincere that she could get anyone to talk to her. When she spoke to you, you felt that you were the only person in the room. She made everyone feel welcome and special.

A few days after that first meeting, we went on a date. I took Monica out on my sailboat on Percy Priest Lake to a small island. We packed a picnic lunch and our love story began. Two years later, in 1999, we eloped. Because we believe it’s the life you build together that matters most, and the wedding ceremony was not important to us. So, we skipped the big celebration and were married on the beaches of northwest Florida-a place that holds special meaning for us to this day. For 30 years, Monica has been the love of my life and we are blessed with three beautiful children: Matthew, Eva, and Mary Michael.

Being witty, charming, loving and athletic made Monica an incredible mom. Through all the years of school events, team sports and scouting, Monica was always there to support the children. She provided countless lunches, snacks, and meals to teams and organizations. Her PB&J sandwiches are famous. Even after raising three children, she was still in incredible shape and could run faster, throw and catch a ball better than anyone in the family. And, still, could do amazing backflips. Home was never dull and the door was always open to friends.

Monica loved cooking. One of her favorite things in life was preparing meals for friends and family. The dinner table has always been the heart of our home. My fondest memories are sitting around a crowded dinner table. Many times we fit more people at the table than reasonably possible. It seems that we could always find a way to squeeze in one more chair. The more crowded, the happier we were.

While Monica loved being at home more than anything, there were a few trips she enjoyed taking. Our annual family vacation to the gulf coast each fall was looked forward to with much anticipation. When Matthew, Eva and Mary Michael were young, we began taking vacations during their fall break in October. We found it to be the perfect time of the year to spend on the white sand beaches of the gulf coast. (The same beach where Monica and I were married.) We kept going back each year even as the children grew into young adults. It was the one trip we could count on getting everyone together. And, Monica loved being together.

Monica passed away on June 27, 2026, leaving a huge hole in our family, home and community that can never be filled. We are grieving her loss and navigating the magnitude of losing her the best way we know how: together. We are comforted in the knowledge that Monica loved our Lord Jesus Christ. She read scripture daily and prayed constantly. Having faith in life eternal, I know her spirit is in God’s loving embrace.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Sara Young Light and father, Joseph “Joe” Light. She leaves behind a loving family: son, Matthew Harley; daughters, Eva Harley and Mary Michael Harley; husband, Mike Harley; brothers, Tyler (Jan) and Jason Light; nieces and nephews, Bobby (Victoria) Light, Emily (Dane) Allen, Corey (Jordan) Lovelace and Sara (Matt) Uhles; stepmother, Cecile Light (affectionately known as “Granny”) and stepbrother, George (Ruth) Meecham. Monica was particularly fond of her many aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Brown and Young side of her family and looked forward to the holiday gatherings and family reunions.

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This obituary was published by Spring Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery.

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