A. Jean Steele

LEETONIA - On Friday, October 30, 2015, A. Jean Steele, at home and surrounded by love, peacefully made her journey to be with the Lord.

Born August 28, 1922 in Avonmore, PA, the daughter of Roy and Lulu (Swauger) Garris, she resided in PA until 1940. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Harry C. "Bud" Steele (November 9, 1995) whom she married on August 14, 1941. They lived together in Leetonia since 1946, just a block away from their three grandchildren of whom they relished being involved in all their activities and achievements.

Employed by the Leetonia Exempted Village School System's cafeteria for 21 years, retiring in 1982, she fed the hearts as well as the bellies of generations of our community. As an active member of the former First Presbyterian Church of Leetonia, she served as an Elder, taught Sunday school for 25 years, and in 2001 joined St. Jacob's United Church of Christ. She was a member of the Salem Chapter #334 of the Ohio Eastern Stars, joining in Leetonia in 1966.

She loved holidays, family gatherings and cooking, but never on Sunday because she "cooked the rest of the week and if God could have a day off, so could she!" Her famous cinnamon rolls, peanut butter fudge, and ginger man cookies will continue to bring smiles to the many who shared in every last morsel. She loved to travel throughout her life with friends, most recently to Riviera Maya, Mexico just one year ago with family. She was an avid reader up until the end, with a love of music and song she so much missed being able to dance, but now she can dance again in the arms of her sweetie. After the passing of her husband, twenty years ago, her grandson Scott delighted her with being his date to special events. She taught us to travel young and make memories, but most of all that family is first and the greatest gift of all so cherish each other because life is all too often too short.

She is survived by her beloved son Gary A. Steele and his wife, her "daughter at heart," Linda (Cook) of Leetonia; three devoted grandchildren, Kimberly Steele-Marks and her husband Joseph of Washingtonville, Gary L. Steele and his wife, Nikki (Harrold) of Westerville, and Scott Steele of Leetonia; six adored great-grandchildren, Emilee K. and Korey A. Barr of Washingtonville; Abigail M., Elisabeth G., Gabriana L. and Gary N. Steele of Westerville; her great-grandson-in-law-to-be, Brett Richeson; and Heather M. Kirby, mother of her light and joy for the past two and a half years, her great-great-grandson, Xaven M. Barr; as well as a host of loved nieces and nephews, two of which who are daughters at heart to her, Cathy Kopy of CA and Cindy Hantz of PA.

Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her firstborn son, Harry L. Steele in 1964; four brothers, Louis, Raymond, Paul and Clair Garris; and two sisters, Mabel Gerheim and Dorothy Johns.

Arrangements have been made at Woods-Rettig Funeral Home in Leetonia where calling hours will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and on Monday, November 2, 2015 from10:00am to 11:00am, with services immediately following at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. Meta Cramer; final resting place at Oakdale Cemetery, Leetonia.

Memorials may be made to the Oakdale Cemetery Chapel Fund.