Billy H. Steele – Shuler Funeral Home

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Billy Harold Steele, 75, of Little Mountain passed away peacefully Saturday, May 6, 2017.

A native of Swords Creek, VA, he was raised in the mountains of southwest VA by his late mother, Eula Quick Steele and grandparents, Arthur and Eliza Quick, before marrying Louise Franklin in 1961. They moved to wherever the work was until settling in SC in 1985. Once there, he started his own grading and excavating company with just a backhoe. Steele Excavating, Inc. later incorporated directional boring into its business. Bill stayed active in the company for nearly 25 years before heart complications made him retire, but he never let sickness keep him from tinkering on something. He continued woodworking, restoring antiques, metalworking, and creating all kinds of neat little inventions.

Bill loved his “babies.” His whole life centered around them. He didn’t like for them to get fussed at and would coddle them when they were in trouble. He was the most generous man who always gave without a hint of selfishness and was the one everyone called to help figure things outs.

He loved his family dearly, as they did him, and he will be missed more than words can ever say.

He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Louise Franklin Steele; daughter, Karen Steele; son, Christopher Steele (Maribel); grandchildren, Robert Lee Steele (Jennifer), Jeremy Steele (Marya), Sarah Hubbard Tessnair (Terry), Ian and Jackson Steele, Mark Angelo Garcia; great-grandchildren, Lucy and Liam Tessnair, Gunnar and Elijah Steele, Madyson and Trevor Dutton, David Jackson; sister, Shelby Johnson (Sam); sister-in-law, Ruthie Steele, wife of his brother, Carl Steele, who passed away in 2014; a number of nieces and nephews; and many friends.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at Macedonia Lutheran Church in Prosperity. Burial will follow in Newberry Memorial Gardens beside his son, Robert Brian Steele. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Tuesday at the church. At other times, they will be at the home of Karen Steele.

Service

Wednesday, May 10, 2017
11:00 AM

Macedonia Lutheran Church - Directions
49 Macedonia Church Road
Propsperity, SC 29127

Burial

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Newberry Memorial Gardens - Directions
15127 C R Koon Hwy
Newberry, SC 29108

Visitation

Tuesday, May 9, 2017
5:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Macedonia Lutheran Church - Directions
49 Macedonia Church Road
Propsperity, SC 29127

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Tribute Wall

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May 09, 2017

Eddie Bledsoe says:

Some of the best days of my life and ministry were spent with the Steele's. I traveled with them, worshiped with them, loved them and they loved me. I made my first trip to Alaska after Bill asked me to go with them . When I said I can't afford to go to Alaska, his response was, "We've got frequent flyer miles. Nobody's asking you pay. You find us a place to stay." We arrived in Fairbanks on Christmas Day and drove to North Pole. I have the most wonderful memories of this entire family. Chris introduced me to the world of cell phones...he furnished my first phone. He called me late one Saturday night when I was at the funeral home in Tazwell VA. He said we'll I don't guess you'll be at church in morning and I told him I planned to. I went with them to Israel in 1998. I can't count the nights that I have spent in their home and all the wonderful meals that I shared with them. They certainly impacted Freedom Baptist Church in a mighty way and never wanted any recognition for their generosity. My life has been blessed to have known this wonderful man and his family.
May 09, 2017

Sandra Galloway says:

Our family was deeply saddened to hear of Bill's passing last week, and we have been reminiscing, cherishing the good memories of which he is such an important part. My sisters and I recall the delightful and entertaining inventions that he created for our grandmother, the wonderful rides in his shiny pickup, his jovial disposition, backyard apple fights which landed me a nice," shiner" and numerous acts of generosity that he extended to our family. Although we traveled infrequently, we always looked forward to Bill, Louise and the children's return from their travels, because a souvenier would always accompany them and wonderful stories explaining the imp. of the gift, whether it was freshly picked cotton or small boxes containing, Mexican jumping beans; they were all wonderful and very significant to us and still, I recall, as an adult, the joy and excitement of those individual treasures from places unfamiliar to me. When he would visit us in Indiana, he was interested in the farming aspect of the pork production we were involved in and actually came to see me while I was working at a large orchard nearby..He was curious about the many fruit trees and ask questions regarding varieties, grading and pruning,impressed with his facts and interest, I was going to tell him just that, when he smiled and said, "Man what a great place for an apple fight!" He became part of our family when my siblings and I were small and he introduced us to his Mother, Shelby and Carl. Often, he would bring Eula to visit us in Norton, and like her son, she was warm, amicable and very kind.and our large family became larger, it now included t the Steeles from Swordscreek... Although we were unable to be with family there in South Carolina, our thoughts and prayers are ever present..We celebrate his life, well-lived, and are forever,grateful that God bought Bill into our family and our hearts.. With Love, Gary, Sandra Galloway & Family
May 10, 2017

Joyce Monger says:

Dear Louise and Family, We are so sorry to hear the news of Bill, all of you are in our thoughts and prayers . Although my memories are mostly of Bill from very long ago, he was always so kind to us when we were children and very fun! We so loved his visits when we lived in Norton, he always made our times together fun and memorable. He had a big heart and easygoing manner and will be missed by many.