Steele, Rutha

Services for Rutha Steele, 73, of Longview, will be at 4 p.m. today, July 25, 2007, at 
Rosewood Park Mausoleum, with Shinia Kelsey officiating. Services are under the direction 
of Rader Funeral Home of Longview.

Ms. Steele passed away Sunday morning, July 22, 2007, at a local nursing home.

Rutha was born February 14, 1934, in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. After high school and college, 
her early working career included Trail Mobile, Axelson/USI, Dunaway Manufacturing, and 
Milton Cammack. She also worked for many years at First National Bank, M Bank, and Bank One, 
where she retired. She loved cooking for any occasion and making special dishes for friends 
at the bank.

She loved teddy bears and was proud of her vast collection of bears of all shapes and sizes, 
including a mink teddy bear. She enjoyed sewing and making party dresses, school clothes for 
her daughters, the layette for her grandson's room, and special blankets and bibs for many 
friends expecting new babies. She also enjoyed calligraphy and made many special plaques and 
prayers for family and friends.

After retirement, she volunteered and kept the "babies" at First Christian Church and Calvary 
Baptist Church and enjoyed babysitting. But her greatest joy was her family. She loved 
spending time with them, especially her grandson Austin, and was fond of spoiling him. She was 
a wonderful, kind and caring Nannie, mom, and friend.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Terri Steele and pal, Dozier; daughter and 
son-in-law, Debbie and Mark Witherspoon; and her only grandson, "Nannies' Mr. Perfect", Austin 
Witherspoon.

A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com.

Published in the Longview News-Journal on 7/25/2007.