Mary Steele

Mary Louise Steele

Mary Steele, 80, of Silver Lake, died, Saturday, July 1st, 2006.
Mary was the oldest of five children in the family of Joel and Jeanette Uhl Hardee.
Born July 11, 1925 in Santa Rosa, Texas, she graduated from Santa Rosa High School and later moved to Silver Lake, Kansas where she taught at a rural one-room school north of Silver Lake. On September 29, 1943 she married her high school sweetheart, Ellis W. Steele, who was home on leave from the United States Marine Corp while serving in WWII.

For the remainder of WWII, she worked at the credit bureau in Kansas City, MO. Later, Mary was employed by the Silver Lake School District as grade school secretary, superintendent's secretary, and clerk of the school board. Mary greatly enjoyed being a part of the staff and student's lives in Silver Lake for 15 years.

Because of her outstanding gardening, cooking and leadership skills, Grove 4-H Club was a recipient of many hours of volunteer work on Mary's behalf as a project and community leader. Mary also was an active member and served in various offices of Grove Extension Home Unit, Menoken Election Board, Bethel Community Club, Silver Lake United Methodist Church and Bethel Chapel Church.

Survivors include her husband, Ellis and their three sons and their wives: Jim and Betty Steele, Topeka; Jack and Carolyn Steele, Silver Lake; Joe and Joleen Steele, Topeka. Mary took pride and joy in attending the 4-H and athletic events for her sons and five grandsons: Doug Steele, Brad Steele, Kelly Steele, Kyle Steele and Tyler Alfrey. Other survivors include three sisters, Chlois McCarter, Bellingham, WA; Betty Hurford, Longmont, CO; and Florence Mitchell, Central Point, OR. A brother Glen Hardee preceded her in death in 1940.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 6, 2006 at the Silver Lake United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Prairie Home Cemetery. Mrs. Steele will lie in state after 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Penwell-Gabel Parker Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue where the family will greet friends from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. that evening. Contributions may be given to Heartland Home Health and Hospice, 1033 SW Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66604 or to Bethel Community Church, 6944 NW Landon, Silver Lake, KS 66539 or to Silver Lake United Methodist Church, 204 Madore, Silver Lake, KS 66539. To leave a message for the family please visit www.PenwellGabel.com.