Without love, Tim Deaton-Conway might not be alive today. Deaton-Conway said most of his adult life was spent “drugging and using and abusing the system and not really contributing to anything.” Until 16 years ago when he met Chad Conway, his now husband, who encouraged him to get clean and stay clean ever since.
“He (Chad) was the first person to make me see that I was worth a different way to live,” Deaton-Conway said. “And then one day it was just like. . . he turned the light on.”

Tim Deaton-Conway, right, gives his husband, Chad Conway, a goodbye kiss before Conway leaves for a cattle sale in Pennsylvania, at their house in Hazard, Kentucky, on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The couple owns a cattle farm that has been in Conway’s family since the early 2000s.

Chad Conway enters the cow pen while Tim Deaton-Conway holds a gate open as the pair prepares to feed cattle at their farm in Hazard, Kentucky, on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Every Saturday morning, the newlyweds typically feed the cows together.

Tim Deaton-Conway, left, laughs with Chad Conway while riding around to feed cows on their farm in Hazard, Kentucky, on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Deaton-Conway said Conway helped to restore him and restore his sense of value.

Chad Conway, center, walks out the door while Tim Deaton-Conway rests on the couch in the early morning at their home in Hazard, Kentucky, on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Deaton-Conway said when he looks back now, the detrimental experiences he faced helped him to be an effective husband, dad and valuable member of society.

Tim Deaton-Conway does his daily skincare routine at his home in Hazard, Kentucky, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. Deaton-Conway said he likes to take care of his appearance, especially since turning 40. “I woke up one day and thought about how early my dad had passed, when he was 45,” Deaton-Conway said. “So I started changing my health and dieting and exercising, and I'm fresh off losing 125 pounds.”

Tim Deaton-Conway sits on the couch drinking a morning cup of coffee at his home in Hazard, Kentucky, on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Deaton-Conway said his husband, Chad Conway, has made a pot of coffee every morning since they have been together. “Just a little bit at a time, little bit at a time, little bit at a time, he restored me.”

Tim Deaton-Conway reads a text notification while working at his office in downtown Hazard, Kentucky, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. In his role as the director of the Appalachian Arts Alliance, Deaton-Conway said he is able to empower young people and feels like he can “actually contribute to the arts community in Hazard.”

Chad Conway rubs his husband, Tim Deaton-Conway’s, head as he puts makeup on in preparation for a performance of the play ‘Vigil’ during its opening weekend at The Forum at the Hal Rogers Center in Hazard, Kentucky, on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Deaton-Conway said it had been his dream to perform the “one-man show of sorts” for the last 25 years after seeing it on Broadway. “He (Chad) helped restore my ability to dream and see my dreams weren’t stupid, and they were valuable,” Deaton-Conway said.

Tim Deaton-Conway, playing his character, Kemp, reacts during a dress rehearsal of ‘Vigil’ at The Forum at the Hal Rogers Center in Hazard, Kentucky, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. According to Deaton-Conway, by “providing opportunities that make people feel special and making them see the value they really, really have” in Hazard, he is helping restore value to his community.

Tim Deaton-Conway fixes his wig before a dress rehearsal for ‘Vigil’ at The Forum at the Hal Rogers Center in Hazard, Kentucky, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. According to Deaton-Conway, his character, Kemp, reminds him and other members of that cast of the person he used to be, saying it was an interesting reflective opportunity he had been talking with his therapist about leading up to the show. “The big psychological crazy man that Kemp was in that story, that was me in real life,” Deaton-Conway said.

Tim Deaton-Conway, center, laughs with gallery exhibition attendees at The ArtStation in downtown Hazard, Kentucky, on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Deaton-Conway said the acceptance and support given to him by the arts community throughout his personal and professional life mean everything to him, saying, “the path and the journey I’ve been on here recently wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Hazard.”

Tim Deaton-Conway rests his head on Chad Conway’s while they call Chad’s son, Jake Conway, at their house in Hazard, Kentucky, on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. Deaton-Conway said Chad helped put the pieces of his life back together while getting clean from drugs. “He helped me get back to who I am and get back to my heart.”