Steven Richard Beil

He was born on December 7, 1945, to Elizabeth "Jo" Beil and Lawrence "Larry" A. Beil Jr. He graduated from Salina High School in 1964 and was the class president his senior year. He was active in Saline Valley 4-H Club and Cub Scouts. As a youth he enjoyed playing piano and taking dance classes. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and then stayed another two years to receive his master’s degree in Social Work, attaining B.C.S.W status while working. He was in the Army Reserves as a medic; therefore, was an army veteran. Steve worked in Kansas City, moved to Omaha, then moved to New Orleans in 1979. He made lifelong friends in each city where he lived. He worked for Catholic Charities, Touro Hospital and Peoples Health in New Orleans. As one colleague recently said: “Steve was such an angel and touched so many lives in his history of providing psychotherapy.”.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents Lawrence F. Beil (Nancy) and James Dunn (Flora), his aunt Marguerite (Dunn) Pipes, his Uncle James Dunn, Jr., his aunt Helen Graves, his aunt Virginia Brookhouser, and his aunt Irene Woolsey, who helped raise him as a child.

Survivors include his life-companion, David J. Peltier of 46 years, his brother Lawrence "Larry" F. Beil, II (Hedy), Overland Park, KS, three nieces: Lindsey S. Wannamaker (J. J.), their children Chloe and James; Lisa A. Erisman (Gary) their children William "Will" and Reece; and Lacy L. Mahlandt (Andy), and their child Olivia, all of Overland Park, KS; his aunt Fayetta Hart; and his cousins JoAnn Weber, Donna Reinbold, Ginny Sue Brookhouser, Judy Dunn- Michaels, Marvin Pipes, Jeff Brookhouser, and Tiffany Reich. Plus, so many friends from across the country who he diligently kept in touch with all his life.

Steve was considered the quiet one who was reliable, had an open ear to all, was gentle, considerate, loved his family, had long time friendships and kept all in touch with each other through letters and emails, but mostly phone calls.

Steve loved his cats, doted on any feline he saw, raised countless pets, and cared for the feral cats around his home in New Orleans. Music and old movies were his other passion. He would work for hours on creating musical playlists for himself and others. When technology advanced, he took hold and used it until one day everything crashed, and he lost all the recordings he had worked so diligently to create. He had a huge collection of vinyl records that he started collecting at the age of six, and he also collected Disney and other cartoon characters, especially a Snow-White Collection.

Steve, along with his partner David, enjoyed collecting older items, especially their vintage Fiesta Ware dishes that always impressed anyone who visited their home. He also had a love of Roseville “Silhouette” pottery, and Van Briggle pottery, all displayed in their home. He was an avid gardener and mower and enjoyed the flowers and extensive gardens maintained at their historic home in Bywater, New Orleans, where they resided from 1984 until his death. He had a special attraction to orchids and African Violets.

There will be a celebration of his life for family and friends at a later date.