Elizabeth Steele was born June 2, 1940, in Mesa, Arizona to parents, Lee Thomas Stockman Sr. and Gladys Nedra Brunson. Elizabeth lived in the Tonto Basin of Arizona until the age of six when her family, including older brother Lee Stockman moved to Waterford, California.
Elizabeth attended Waterford Elementary School and at the tender age of six started working alongside her parents cutting fruit during the summer months. After graduating from Oakdale High School in 1958, she worked one summer at TCG Cannery, then became a bookkeeper, typist, and cashier for commercial credit.
On November 5, 1960, Elizabeth married Gerald S. Steele, who also attended Oakdale High School, though they did not know each other during that time. They started a family, and they had four children together. She had a love for animals, had a green thumb, love putting puzzles together, and was a very accomplished seamstress.
In 1961, Elizabeth began to work seasonally in the cannery working for companies like Contadina, Hunt Wesson, John Inglis, Haig Berberian, Pet Foods, S&W, with spending the length of her career at Tri Valley Growers. She was hard working and well liked everywhere she worked. Starting on the line, she quickly moved up to a floor leader, a foreman, and then a supervisor. At the time of her retirement on December 6, 2001, she was well respected Warehouse manager at Tri Valley Growers Plant W.
Elizabeth’s greatest loves in life were her relationship with Jesus Christ, her children; Sandy of Ely, Nevada, Gerald of Fresno, California, Gene of Ripon, California, Paullette of Oakdale, California, the nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren she went on to have. Everything she did was to expand her relationship with Jesus and benefit her children. She prayed every day for them that they would come to know Jesus as their Savior and be protected from the world. This was the most important mission in life for her. She was also a safe harbor, someone who could be counted on for a listening ear, advice, and help of any kind.
Elizabeth went home with the lord on December 27, 2024.
In appreciation of the care Elizabeth received in her last days, we ask that any donations be made to: Community Hospice and Health Services Foundation.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Jan. 15, 2025
