Roll Call Tribute
Bill "Bill M." Steele '49 June 26, 2014 2:31 PM
Eubank Funeral Home obituary
Bill M. Steele
Birth date: July 25, 1928
Death date: May 09, 2014
Quiet Strength Billy Morris Steele of Canton, Texas, age 85 went home to be with the Lord on May 9, 2014. Bill’s wonderful life began in Santa Anna, Texas, on July 25, 1928. His parents were Lillie and Raymond Steele. Bill grew up on a farm outside of Coleman, TX. He attended various rural schools where his father was a teacher, but he also attended school in Coleman and Mozelle, Texas. Bill was a true country boy who loved and thrived on the land, horses, and cattle. A product of a long line of West Texans, he found strength from his roots, the land, and the Lord. He joined the Merchant Marines when he was 16 years old and traveled to the Philippines and the Far East during WW II. After leaving the Marines, Bill then attended his beloved Texas A&M University where he was a leader in the Core, and he graduated in 1948 with a degree in Medical Entomology. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Bessie Lee Priddy, also from Coleman. What a testament to a wonderful life in that they were married for 66 years. After his graduation, his first job was in Louisiana for the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. When this job was over, Bill became a dynamic salesman of insecticide and fertilizer .This sales ability gave him success in many different fields. His longest career was building houses which landed him in Lubbock, Texas for many years building beautiful custom homes and apartments. As a fore thinker, Bill moved his family to Plano, Texas, where he was one of the first custom home builders in West Plano and Allen. Bill loved to create custom homes to fit a family’s needs. In 1970, Bill wanted to return to his roots, so he purchased a ranch outside of Canton, TX where he raised cattle. This ranch brought much joy to him as well as his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A dream of living on the land was once again fulfilled and a piece of his childhood joy was reenergized. He shared this love of the land and nature with his family and taught them the beauty of life through nature and God. For many years, he attended First Baptist Church Dallas under the tutelage of Dr. W.A. Criswell. Here, he grew in his strength and his love of Jesus. In his later years, his love of the land and cattle led him to develop a passion for reading western writers such as Louis Lamour and Zane Gray. In addition and most importantly, he was an avid reader and studier of the Bible, and he lived his life by the scriptures he so loved. Bill Steele was a man of his word and was a shining example to his family. This spirit permeated into the lives of his children and grandchildren who love him dearly. He had the quiet strength of courage and passed this legacy of a true man of the Lord on to his family. His family will miss him but will carry on with the values he instilled in them. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lee Priddy Steele, 4 children, Morris Steele and his wife, Lisa of Garland, Tex. Leah Anne Steele Kleiman of Allen, Texas, Melanee Hensley of Colorado Springs, Colo, and Tammie Gallegos and husband Dennis of Aurora, Colorado. He is also survived by many grandchildren including: Shelli Schimdt of Amarillo, TX. Kelli Rodgers of Lubbock, TX, Jason Kleiman of Plano, TX, Brandon Kleiman and wife Megan of Wylie, TX. Caroline Nesrsta and husband Matt of Little Elm, Texas. Michelle Osborne and husband Michael of Denver, Colorado, Valoree Simpson and husband, Jimmy of Anchorage, Alaska, Nicole Hensley and Chandelle Hensley of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Stephen Hensley of Canton, TX. and Amanda Gallegos of Aurora, Colo. Also, Bill has 16 great grandchildren and 3 nephews Geryl Mortensen and wife Lydia of McKinney, TX, Ronald Allan Steele and M.L. Steele of Lubbock, TX. He is preceded in death by his parents Lillie and Raymond Steele, brothers Weldon and Mac Steele, and a son, Don Steele, and a great grandchild Courtney Schmidt. A man of honor and integrity with a quiet strength is Billy Morris Steele who had a life well-lived. Rest in the arms of the Lord. Funeral service at 10:30 AM Saturday, May 17, 2014, at Eubank Funeral Home Canton, TX. Burial in Coleman City Cemetery, Coleman, TX.
Service:
10:30 am on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Eubank Funeral Chapel 27532 State Hwy 64 Canton TX 75103 (map/driving directions)
Cemetery:
Coleman City Cemetery Coleman TX (map/driving directions)
Bill M. Steele
Birth date: July 25, 1928
Death date: May 09, 2014
Quiet Strength Billy Morris Steele of Canton, Texas, age 85 went home to be with the Lord on May 9, 2014. Bill’s wonderful life began in Santa Anna, Texas, on July 25, 1928. His parents were Lillie and Raymond Steele. Bill grew up on a farm outside of Coleman, TX. He attended various rural schools where his father was a teacher, but he also attended school in Coleman and Mozelle, Texas. Bill was a true country boy who loved and thrived on the land, horses, and cattle. A product of a long line of West Texans, he found strength from his roots, the land, and the Lord. He joined the Merchant Marines when he was 16 years old and traveled to the Philippines and the Far East during WW II. After leaving the Marines, Bill then attended his beloved Texas A&M University where he was a leader in the Core, and he graduated in 1948 with a degree in Medical Entomology. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Bessie Lee Priddy, also from Coleman. What a testament to a wonderful life in that they were married for 66 years. After his graduation, his first job was in Louisiana for the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. When this job was over, Bill became a dynamic salesman of insecticide and fertilizer .This sales ability gave him success in many different fields. His longest career was building houses which landed him in Lubbock, Texas for many years building beautiful custom homes and apartments. As a fore thinker, Bill moved his family to Plano, Texas, where he was one of the first custom home builders in West Plano and Allen. Bill loved to create custom homes to fit a family’s needs. In 1970, Bill wanted to return to his roots, so he purchased a ranch outside of Canton, TX where he raised cattle. This ranch brought much joy to him as well as his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A dream of living on the land was once again fulfilled and a piece of his childhood joy was reenergized. He shared this love of the land and nature with his family and taught them the beauty of life through nature and God. For many years, he attended First Baptist Church Dallas under the tutelage of Dr. W.A. Criswell. Here, he grew in his strength and his love of Jesus. In his later years, his love of the land and cattle led him to develop a passion for reading western writers such as Louis Lamour and Zane Gray. In addition and most importantly, he was an avid reader and studier of the Bible, and he lived his life by the scriptures he so loved. Bill Steele was a man of his word and was a shining example to his family. This spirit permeated into the lives of his children and grandchildren who love him dearly. He had the quiet strength of courage and passed this legacy of a true man of the Lord on to his family. His family will miss him but will carry on with the values he instilled in them. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lee Priddy Steele, 4 children, Morris Steele and his wife, Lisa of Garland, Tex. Leah Anne Steele Kleiman of Allen, Texas, Melanee Hensley of Colorado Springs, Colo, and Tammie Gallegos and husband Dennis of Aurora, Colorado. He is also survived by many grandchildren including: Shelli Schimdt of Amarillo, TX. Kelli Rodgers of Lubbock, TX, Jason Kleiman of Plano, TX, Brandon Kleiman and wife Megan of Wylie, TX. Caroline Nesrsta and husband Matt of Little Elm, Texas. Michelle Osborne and husband Michael of Denver, Colorado, Valoree Simpson and husband, Jimmy of Anchorage, Alaska, Nicole Hensley and Chandelle Hensley of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Stephen Hensley of Canton, TX. and Amanda Gallegos of Aurora, Colo. Also, Bill has 16 great grandchildren and 3 nephews Geryl Mortensen and wife Lydia of McKinney, TX, Ronald Allan Steele and M.L. Steele of Lubbock, TX. He is preceded in death by his parents Lillie and Raymond Steele, brothers Weldon and Mac Steele, and a son, Don Steele, and a great grandchild Courtney Schmidt. A man of honor and integrity with a quiet strength is Billy Morris Steele who had a life well-lived. Rest in the arms of the Lord. Funeral service at 10:30 AM Saturday, May 17, 2014, at Eubank Funeral Home Canton, TX. Burial in Coleman City Cemetery, Coleman, TX.
Service:
10:30 am on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Eubank Funeral Chapel 27532 State Hwy 64 Canton TX 75103 (map/driving directions)
Cemetery:
Coleman City Cemetery Coleman TX (map/driving directions)
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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