Faith and resilience define Huntsville man’s journey after loss and adversity
A Quiet Hero in Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – For Chaster “Chad” Henley, life has never come easy. Born with cerebral palsy and walking with crutches since childhood, Henley has grown used to physical challenges. But nothing could prepare him for the emotional and spiritual weight he would carry in 2025, when his beloved wife, Rachel, passed away following a long struggle with multiple health issues. Left to care for three children, including two adopted sons and a daughter, Henley found himself navigating grief, financial hardship, and physical limitations.
Yet, through it all, he never lost his faith. Each day, he chooses to keep going. He wakes up with prayer, listens to the Bible, and seeks to understand God’s voice more clearly. Henley has faced heartbreak that would crush most people. Instead, he presses on with a quiet strength and a determination to help others.
A Marriage Built on Love and Loyalty
Henley and Rachel’s journey together was filled with both joy and hardship. They were together for more than 20 years. Over time, they built a family together. They adopted two boys and raised a daughter, forming a household grounded in love, faith, and perseverance.
In 2017, Rachel began experiencing unexplained health issues. She could not hold down food or water, and her hair began falling out. Eventually, doctors discovered an infected gallbladder. Though it was removed, new challenges emerged. She was later diagnosed with congestive heart failure, which led to increased fatigue and lightheadedness.
Despite these struggles, Henley stood by her side through hospital visits, surgeries, and recovery periods. In one instance, Rachel suffered a fall that led to a broken ankle. Later, she fractured her leg and underwent therapy and treatment involving the placement of rods. Henley supported her throughout each phase of recovery.
A Tragic Turn
In early 2025, Rachel began vomiting again. Her daughter convinced her to visit a local hospital, but the symptoms persisted. Doctors eventually transferred Rachel to a hospital in Houston. Henley stayed by her side for twelve days.
Two days before Rachel passed, Henley said he was praying and felt God speak to him. “God was asking me, why are you worried? She’s on the other side of this thing. And I thought, okay, Lord, she’s on the other side of this thing. But I’m not thinking about the other side of this thing, what He’s thinking. I’m thinking we’re going to go home.”
Rachel’s condition worsened rapidly. When the nurse checked her blood pressure, it had dropped to 40 over 29. Hospital staff rushed to revive her, but it was too late. Henley found himself alone in a hospital conference room, calling family members and delivering the news no one ever wants to hear.
He remembered speaking words he had not planned. “I’m built for such a time as this,” he told a nurse. Later, a friend told him those words were from the book of Esther. “I didn’t know that’s where it came from,” he said, “but soon realized it was from the Bible.”
Henley honored Rachel’s wishes to be cremated and now wears a keychain with some of her ashes.
A Gift of Accessibility
Amid his grief, Henley reached out to Expo Home Improvement for a quote on remodeling his shower. During the appointment, he spoke with the team while on the phone with his brother, discussing how Rachel’s passing affected his finances. “We were breaking down what I brought into the household just by myself, and my brother told me, you’re $700 short every month,” Henley recalled.
The team from Expo quietly listened to the conversation. Though Henley believed he was simply seeking an estimate, the company had other plans. They called him later to say they wanted to install a brand-new, fully accessible shower at no cost.
“They called from Dallas and said, we heard your story and we just want to help,” Henley said. “This is no cost to you. I was floored.”
The donation has provided Henley with a safer and more accessible bathing environment, helping him maintain independence and dignity while living with limited mobility.
Community Partnership Makes a Lasting Difference
Tim Jusko, regional sales manager for Expo Home Improvement, explained that Henley initially reached out through a standard consultation request. “He found us through some sort of marketing or online advertisement,” Jusko said. “One of our design consultants came out, got to hear his story, spec out his project, and in reviewing it later on, we decided that this would be a great opportunity to go above and beyond for an individual.” The company ultimately chose to gift the remodel at no cost. “Being a privately owned company, our owners get to review projects like this and keep a finger on the pulse,” he said. “Whenever we have a story like this, it’s a home run for us to do that.” The transformation focused on replacing Henley’s large garden tub with a custom walk-in shower designed for accessibility and daily ease of use. “If he needs to get his wheelchair in there or walker, whatever’s best for him and ease of use, he can actually have that take place,” Jusko added.
The project was made possible through Expo’s charitable arm, Collective Way, a nonprofit under the company’s umbrella that supports veterans, foster ministries, and community needs across Texas. “One of our mantras is improving homes and transforming lives,” Jusko said. “And if this is a small way in which we get to do it, that’s what we want.” Those wishing to learn more or support the mission can visit expohomeimprovement.com or their nonprofit site at collectiveway.com.
Living with Purpose
Henley was raised in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and later moved to Huntsville with Rachel in 2002 to be closer to her family. Though he never completed his degree at UTA, he later earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s degree in business online.
He began substitute teaching in 2002 and has worked across Huntsville ISD’s campuses. “I’ve been through all of them,” he said. “I’ve been to the middle school, the high school, and the elementaries.”
Henley continues to attend Faith Temple Church, the same congregation where Rachel’s father once pastored. His brother-in-law now leads the church. Henley said, “He (Rachel’s father) took me up under his wing, and I just learned from him. I learned a lot of stuff from him.”
His faith remains central to his life. “Just the way I treated Rachel, I need to treat God,” Henley said. “So, I wake up with Him in the morning. I go to bed with Him. I’m listening to the Bible. I’m trying to understand. I’m trying to get a better understanding of His voice.”
Henley hopes to become a motivational speaker and use his story to inspire others. “That’s my gift: to help people meet their spiritual goals and their natural goals,” he said. “If looking at my life inspires you to have a better relationship with God, then I’ve done my job.”
He believes everyone has a purpose and a testimony worth sharing. “Everybody has a story, but everybody’s not willing to tell their story,” he said.
Henley’s journey continues, but his message remains clear. Through grief, loss, and challenge, he chooses to walk by faith.
“I was built for such a time as this.”
