Wilson Ray Steedley

He is celebrating in Heaven with his beloved wife of 66 years, Lela Mae Steedley, who passed in November of 2017. He is also predeceased by his parents; brothers Hanford Steedley and Grady & Vera Steedley; and sisters Virginia Wade, Vera & Johnny Platt, and nephew Larry Platt.

Wilson was born in Strawn, Texas on December 17, 1929 to John Henry Grady Steedley, Sr. and Nora Bell Warden, who passed away when he was a boy of 12. He grew up in and around the streets of Austin and then moved with his oldest sister along with his baby sister, to live on a farm in rural Iowa and graduate from high school in a class of 7 graduates. He then hitchhiked back to Austin and met his soon to be wife on a blind date and joined the U.S. Army.

Wilson retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone after a long tenure of 43 years. He was proud of his long commitment and enjoyed the many friends that he made along the way – he was a dear friend and jokester to so many. Wilson also had a long list of “Tuesday Night Poker” buddies, of which he played and helped to keep going, made up of a lot of his SBT friends, for over 50 years.

Wilson was a humble man who loved his family more than anything in this world and always did anything he could to provide for them and make life the best he could for them. Wilson & “Lee” had 3 children and lots of family who miss him dearly - Linda Hilbun (Matt), Beth Saum (Chris), and Michael Steedley (Susan); 6 grandchildren - Eric Koch (Brenna); Christopher Saum (Lauren); Ryan Saum (Anna) & “greats” Elliott and Lucy; and Justin Steedley, Jared Steedley (Jessica) & “great” Sawyer Kate, and Jonathan Steedley (Cassi). He also has a sister, Shirley Traweek, nieces Jeanie Hubbard, and Katherine McDonald (Wayne). Wilson also shared many great times and fond memories with his extended family members – the Kaufman Family, the Mobley Family, and his beloved mother-in-law Leta Faye Dittemore who considered him her own son, and the Josephs family who thought so highly of him.

Wilson spent years coaching baseball and basketball, having fun on the family “house boat” with the kids growing up, and ultimately making good old fashioned fun for all the grandsons – with sleepovers, wrestling together, birthday parties, afterschool care, etc. and they always felt welcome. Their house was the place to be for all their kids’ friends through the years. Love abounded in the Steedley Home – and he was determined to make his family’s world better than what he had – which he overwhelmingly did and so many friends of the Steedley kids were impacted, still to this day. He had a bit of “selective hearing”, only catching what he cared to out of his “good ear”, with a little smirk! We will miss “Dad” and “Grandpa” so much.

Dad was a quiet strength in our home growing up, sitting in his chair with a Pepsi in his hand and a toothpick behind his ear, is the way we will always remember him.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation and reception to be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 on Saturday, September 11, 2021 2021 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home. A private family burial gathering will be held at Cook-Walden/Memorial Hill Cemetery in Pflugerville.

To share words of comfort and memories of Wilson with his family, please visit www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com