Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Bill Steele


(From Parker Mortuary)

William Dee Steele of Jasper, Missouri passed away early the morning of December 20, 2022. Bill was born in O’Neal, Arkansas on February 22, 1935 and was the son of the late John William Kelley and Opal Velda (Winkle) Kelley.

Bill was an exceptionally loving, caring and talented gentleman who made friends wherever he went. He was the maintenance man for the First Presbyterian Church in Joplin during the 1980's and 90's. 








Upon retiring he worked at Pearl Brothers Hardware Store in Joplin, MO and moved to Jasper. While in Jasper he was a fixture at Peggy's Restaurant for breakfast and made friends with his neighbors and the police department, who would often stop by to check on him and bring him meals. Bill and his family considered the Jasper community a blessing and would like to thank them for all they did for Bill.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Barbara Ann (Kopecky-Lawrence) Steele. Bill and Barbara were married in Miami, Oklahoma on February 27, 1985. Bill and Barbara enjoyed five blissful years of marriage, before Barbara was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Bill's love for Barbara was evident as he cared for her for the next two years until she passed away on May 19, 1992. Barbara's daughter Deborah and her family remained Bill’s family for the next thirty years and would visit often.

He is survived by his sister Beverice (Kelley) Line and his brother Loren Kelley. His immediate family included his step-daughter Deborah (Lawrence) Kovarik, and her husband Joseph Kovarik of Olathe, KS and their children Hannah and Hayden Kovarik.








The family would also like to thank the Communities of Wildwood for their excellent care over the past twenty-one months.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in Parker Mortuary Chapel.

The family will receive friends following the service at Parker Mortuary.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Lung Association.

https://action.lung.org/site/Donation2?df_id=31271&mfc_pref=T&31271.donation=form1

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