Frances Lee Steele

Wilson- Services for Frances Lee (Garrison) Steele, of Wilson, are scheduled for 2PM, Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the Ash Street Church of Christ in Wilson with Jeff Jones officiating and Warren Haynes providing the eulogy. Interment will follow at Hewitt Cemetery in Wilson. Services are under the care and direction of Alexander Gray Funeral Home in Wilson.

Frances was born on December 8th, 1942, at Ardmore, Oklahoma to the late Dewey Lee Garrison and Bertha Violet (Martin) Garrison. She departed this life on Wednesday morning, October 11th, 2023, at her home in Wilson at the age of 80 years, 10 months, and 3 days.

During the early part of her life, Frances lived on her parent's 40 acre farm located three miles east of Healdton. Her parents purchased this land after returning from a two year excursion to California not long after she was born where her father worked in the orchards. This beloved homeplace located between Healdton and Wilson became the setting for all the wonderful childhood memories she would later share with her children, grandchildren, and anyone that would listen. Frances was the second of four girls and she soon discovered that her favorite place was right beside her daddy. Like many rural families in the 40's and 50's, daily living consisted of working the land and living off of what it yielded. Frances helped her daddy in any way she could with the cows, chickens, turkeys, planting and harvesting. Many of the antique farm implements are on display on her property today. Frances and her family gathered pecans, gathered honey from the bee boxes, and most importantly they gathered together. Her mother was a gentle hard-working woman who prioritized keeping a clean home and a clean heart. At an early age, Frances realized that God had given her the gift of singing and she loved to use that gift. She sang from the swing on the south side of their house and if someone walked by, they might hear a robust rendition of "Home on the Range". She sang gospel along with the radio and she sang at church. She spent countless hours at the home of her favorite, elderly couple, Melvin and Irene Shellenburger singing hymns as Irene played the piano. As a teenage girl, they mentored her and showered her with love. She would later recount the many families in the Rexroat community who generously reached out to her family when their house burned. Frances attended Rexroat school with the exception of attending third grade at Wheeler after Rexroat school burned. The school was rebuilt and she graduated from Rexroat in 1960. Her best friend while at Rexroat School was Wilma Talley. She fondly remembered Supt. Wesley Hull and his wife, Imogine Hull, a classroom teacher, as well as Mr. and Mrs. George Jones who lived across from the school and sold chili buns, candy, and pop to the Rexroat students. At that point in her life, her heart was set toward being a caregiver and a foreign missionary. She worked in Wilson and then in Ardmore as a caregiver and took Bible courses and voice lessons. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Paul David Steele, through her friend Betty Strawn Monroe. Frances and Paul David had many things in common and one of these was their love for singing. They fell in love singing classic country hits while he played guitar sometimes accompanied by other members of the Steele family. One of their favorite duets was "The Violet and the Rose". They even made a few public appearances. They were married on November 7th, 1964, at the Ash Street Church of Christ and made their home in Wilson. They started their family right away with Paul David working at Steele's Grocery, a family owned store. In 1969, they purchased 70 acres 1.6 miles south of Wilson on Highway 76 where they would live out the rest of their lives raising cattle, kids, and eventually becoming owners of Steele's Grocery. As their three children grew the entire family eventually worked in the store and became well known in the community. Frances loved making a home for her family. She was a seamstress and a fantastic cook. She served things like biscuits and gravy for breakfast and roast on Sunday. Paul David would say, "France, you got a banana pudding?" knowing she didn't make one and it would irritate her if he asked. She would cook what Paul David brought in from hunting like squirrel, quail, and fish, but she drew the line with frog legs. She was an avid cleaner and organizer. She always had flowers and grew them well. In the late 70's, Paul David was diagnosed with cancer and she stayed close to his side through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and eventually surgery. Paul David succombed to a chemotherapy induced heart attack in 1990 and at age 48, Frances became a model for strength and adaptability. In the years that followed, Frances worked for Val's Discount in Wilson, Homeland bakery, Farmer's Market, and Auto Ranch. Auto Ranch was owned by her dear sister and friend, Linda Rabe, and the years they worked together were very special. Frances also started her own cake decorating business which included making wedding cakes and special birthday cakes for her family. God always provided and grandchildren came along filling her life with delight. Frances passed down her love for the outdoors to her children and grandchildren. They loved heading out across the pasture in groups or alone collecting flowers, rocks, or clay for molding. The best nature walks happened when Nana went along and led the way. Wiener roasts in the woods were another popular activity and her grandkids could always count on her to rake the fire and, if the spirit moved her, she might kick off an Indian dance. Not everyone knew it, but she could be quite entertaining. As time passed, Frances became increasingly interested in family genealogy, Native American history, and arrowhead collecting. She could spot an arrowhead on her property when no one else could. She displayed her most prized arrowheads in a room she called the Indian room. Turquoise, dream catchers, and Native American dolls were part of her decor. She admired old trees, petrified wood, and old homeplaces. No piece of God's green earth was ever more loved than the 70 acres she called her own. She mowed and brush hogged and manicured until she got a reputation with the Wilson folk. Frances was a faithful member of the Ash Street Church of Christ in Wilson and she provided excellent care of the building and grounds for many years. Her dedication to family and God was clearly demonstrated throughout her life. She was a blessing to so many and the impact she made on others will not soon be forgotten.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Dewey and Bertha Garrison; husband, Paul David Steele in 1990 and her sister, Dorothy Lerkins.

Survivors include her daughters, Paula Jones and husband Jeff of Lone Grove and Janice Haynes and husband Warren of Ardmore; son, David Steele of Wilson; sisters, Ruth Johnson and husband Moe of Red Oak, TX and Linda Rabe and husband Jackie of Lone Grove; grandchildren, Wade Jones, Tyler Jones, Lindsey Jones, Ivory Haynes, Chloe Haynes, Asher Haynes, Auburn Haynes, Samera Steele, Addelyn Steele, Mykayla Steele, and Everlee Steele; great grandchildren, Jaxson Jones and Sadie Jones; numerous nieces and nephews, other family and a host of friends.

Family visitation will be held from 6-8PM, Friday evening at the Alexander Gray Funeral Home Chapel in Wilson.

Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.alexandergrayfh.com.