Bessie Mae Steele was born on May 14, 1931, in Bay City, Texas. After a lengthy battle with cancer, she was "promoted" from this life at Matagorda Regional Medical Center in Bay City, Texas on April 16, 2010 at the age of seventy-eight.

Bessie (better known as Bess) was preceded in death by her parents, Dee and Veola Halliburton, and one sister, Geraldine Zboril.

She leaves behind a loving husband, Don Steele; god-son Rafe and wife Tabitha Gibson of Southlake, Texas; her faithful pets, Maggie and Booger Red; sisters Ada Windsor of Houston, Texas, and Vivian Tyler of Sweeny, Texas; and god-grandchildren, Brynne and Bria Gibson of Southlake, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. Bess will be greatly missed by her special friends and caregivers, Lori Campbell, Rose Beavers, Carolyn Ashcraft, Barbara Patterson, and Kaylan Johnson. Bess was a member of Apostolic Lighthouse in West Columbia—her church family will greatly miss her beautiful smile and gentle hugs.

Bess was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone in Bay City for about seventeen years. She later worked for Richardson Heights Bank and Trust in Richardson, Texas for many years. She and her husband enjoyed traveling across the western United States, especially visiting the Pueblo Indian reservation and other historical sights.

Bess was a person with a great capacity to love others. Many people have enjoyed her hospitality of a cup of coffee and a slice of lemon pound cake or a homemade cinnamon roll. Throughout her long battle with cancer, she never wavered in her faith and trust in the God she loved and served. She was deeply devoted to her faithful husband of forty-eight years, who has been a courageous care-giver, making sure that she received the best of care and attention. Don, you gave it your best!

Sincere gratitude is extended to the Texas State HomeHealth Care Agency, especially Staci Perrin, RN; Ruby Huerta, CNA; and Tanya Schutz, PT. Sabrina Garrison, PA, has brightened Bess' days many times with her drop-in visits, frequent phone calls, and obvious love and concern.

The men of Apostolic Lighthouse will proudly be her pallbearers. They include: Jerry Anderson, Matt Brister, Bill Brown, Billy Campbell, Johnny J. Chancellor, Monty Payne and Eric Whitmire.

Friends may visit on Sunday April 18, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City. The celebration of her Homegoing will be at 2:00pm at Apostolic Lighthouse in West Columbia on Monday April 19. Pastor Danny Johnson, Reverend Mike Brister, and Reverend Craig Ashcraft will officiate this celebration. Interment will follow at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City.