Fellow employees and friends of Kerry Partridge were stunned to learn he died suddenly Monday of a heart attack. He was 33.

Partridge had worked in IT at CCB Community Bank for the past nine years. Co-workers said he lived, breathed and understood cyber-security in important ways.

Partridge and his wife, Stephanie Partridge, were expecting their first child, Amelia Joan Partridge, in three months.

“He was so in love with this baby,” Partridge said. “He talked about her a lot. He couldn’t wait to meet her and hold her. He was ready to be a daddy.”

The couple actually met online seven years ago, and married May 14, 2016. He was a native of Troy, she of Enterprise.

“His job was definitely what he loved to do,” she said. “He was incredibly good at what he did. He was the best at it. He loved his job and everyone he worked with.”

Kerry Partridge was being treated with medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol.

“We knew there was a risk of heart disease for him,” she said. “Both of his parents had heart attacks when they were younger, but they survived those.”

Partridge said she hopes that people learn from her husband to never take your life for granted.

“Anything could happen. You have to live every day to your fullest, and that’s what he did,” she said. “He made sure that he saw his family every weekend. And he just lived his life to the best that he could. He had a lot of fun doing it.”

Partridge said her husband also will be remembered as a good person.

“He would go out of his way to help people,” she said. “He was the best husband. He was a very good friend to a lot of people. And he was definitely going to be the best daddy in the world.”

Dillard Funeral Home in Troy is assisting the family. Arrangements are expected to be announced on Wednesday.