Lee Steele

She was born in her parents’ home on their ranch during a cold winter day. The youngest of 3 girls, Lee came into the world with fervor and a passion for life. After a few years on the farm, Lee grew up in Coleman, Texas where her dad owned an insurance company, and her mom was a homemaker. As she grew up, the depression and WWII influenced her in her love for America and knowledge of how to be creative with very little. She was of the greatest generation who sacrificed so much for this country. Frugality and fastidiousness marked her life as a result of those experiences. After graduation from Coleman High School, she attended Hardin Simmons University for one year. She then met the love of her life, Billy Morris Steele in Coleman. They married in 1948, and their marriage lasted for 65 years. Because of his business in entomology, they traveled to many towns in Texas and Louisiana when they finally settled down in Lubbock, Texas, for many years. During this time, her children were born, all 5 of them. As Bill began a building business, she would help him in many ways especially in the decorating aspect which she loved. Along with helping him, she raised her children and maintained an immaculate household. Her West Texas roots instilled in her grit and gumption to power through any difficult or challenging circumstance she faced, and she kept going! Keeping a large family fed and clothed consistently was a massive undertaking, but she was very adept in her cooking and sewing skills. On top of that, she would dress in her suits and hats to go shopping in town. In 1970, they relocated to Grand Prairie,Texas, to continue in the building business where again she took care of many aspects and details of the process. Always organized, Lee could do anything she set her mind to. In 1971, they again moved, to Plano, TX this time. She was always involved in the church in every town they lived in especially in the choir as she could play the piano and sing. She loved hymns , and if you walked into her house, you would hear them playing most of the time. As it became time for them to slow down and retire, which was not in her vocabulary, they bought a ranch in Tundra outside of Canton in 1974 and settled there for the next 40 years. It is impossible to describe Lee without including how she helped Bill with cows, rode horses, killed snakes, gutted fish, and then wore her beautiful outfits with grace and glamour. At this point, most of her children could not keep up with her. When her children had challenges of their own, her favorite statement to them was “You cannot help what other people do, you can only control yourself." This instilled a sense of responsibility and discipline for their own lives and actions. She kept going with a genuine dependence on the Lord. Most people have never worked as hard as she, and she was just getting started. In Canton, she began to make a difference in many people’s lives. An organizing member of Mathea Guild, Christian Women’s club, and the Friends of the library, she changed many lives with her determination to build relationships while serving God. For many years, Bill and Lee attended First Baptist Dallas, and she loved that church. Antiques and shopping for art and plants became a new interest for her, and she gave so many of these as gifts to her children and friends. Sending cards to encourage others was a habit that spanned her life, and she still communicated with those she had known since she was young. When she turned 55, she started her next career working at Sears in Tyler selling appliances. Quick wit, quick learning ability and her love of people made her very successful in this career as it did in all of her other opportunities. As she began to slow down some and became a grandparent, she became Memaw and taught all of her grandkids how to play dominoes and have a love for nature. Also, she became an avid reader of history, literature, biography and acquired enough knowledge to have a Masters Degree. During her 80’s, she took care of her ailing husband, maintained the farm and began to play bridge with several groups in town. This in addition to reading kept her mind sharp even as her body slowed. After Bill passed away, she moved to town in Canton in a home she loved. With challenging health issues, she pushed with her typical grit and gusto to keep going which was her life’s mantra, and never let anything prevent her from the things and people she loved. In November 2019, she was given honorary acceptance to The National Society of the Daughters of 1812 because her great grandfather was in the war, and she was very proud of that honor. She kept going and refused to give up even until the end. To keep up with her was a challenge, to emulate her was impossible, to whomever was in her life, they were blessed. Lee Steele made her mark everywhere she went, and we are all fortunate God loaned her to us and the world for 90 years. She will leave a hole in the lives of many, but rest assured, she did live a full life doing God’s will ,and she will never be forgotten.

Lee is survived by her Son, Morris & Lisa Steele; Daughter, Leah Anne Kleiman; Daughter, Melanee Hensley; Daughter, Tammy & Dennis Gallegos; 11 Grandchildren; and 16 Great-Grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her Parents, William & Eddia Lee Priddy; Husband, Billy Morris Steele; Son, Don Steele; Sister, Oleta Mortensen; and Sister, Nancy Muir.

Services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 7, 2020 at Eubank Funeral Home in Canton with Bro. Steve Glosup officiating.

Family will receive friends Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Interment will be at Coleman City Cemetery in Coleman, TX.

Psalm 55:66 – “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away and be at rest.”

…and she finally is at a well deserved rest with the Lord.