Harold Roy Steele was born in Vernal, Utah, to Don Homer and Margaret Sue Steele on Oct. 22, 1939, at the home of his grandmother, Harriet Steele. He had four brothers and four sisters. Roy spent his younger childhood years living on the family homestead, helping his dad and his uncle Chick run cattle along Douglass Creek from Foundation to Red Rock and down to Horse Draw.Harold Roy Steele was born in Vernal, Utah, to Don Homer and Margaret Sue Steele on Oct. 22, 1939, at the home of his grandmother, Harriet Steele. He had four brothers and four sisters. Roy spent his younger childhood years living on the family homestead, helping his dad and his uncle Chick run cattle along Douglass Creek from Foundation to Red Rock and down to Horse Draw.Don and Maggie moved their family to Rangely in the late 1940s. Roy was graduated from Rangely High School in 1958 and then entered the service where he served in the Army as an 84th Engineer for three years.In 1961 he returned to Rangely and went to work for his dad as a heavy equipment operator. On May 13, 1961, he married Mickey Deanne Wood. A son, Jesse Don, was born on Jan. 1, 1962, and a daughter, Judy Dawn, followed on March 18, 1964. Shortly after Judy was born, Roy and Mickey moved to Jensen, Utah, and Roy went to work in the Bonanza gilsonite mines. In 1965, Roy and Mickey returned to Rangely and Roy went into business with his dad under the name of Don H. Steele and Son.Roy and his dad built roads and locations for the area gas and oil companies until 1989 when he contracted with Chevron as a grader operator with his new business, Dirt Works. In 1998, Roy joined the Rio Blanco County Road and Bridge Department as a heavy equipment operator where he worked until his death at the age of 71. When not sitting on a bulldozer or in a grader, Roy was riding and training horses. Throughout the years he followed his wife and kids to countless rodeos and horse shows, serving as trainer, coach, stable boy and groom. Later he gained an interest in training and showing cutting horses, and eventually took to the show arena himself where he found success and great pleasure.He was actively involved in the Rangely Senior Saddle Club and a sponsor of the Rangely Junior Saddle Club. He helped organize several Rangely Little Buckaroo and Little Britches Rodeos. He raced chariots, shot shotgun, hunted, trapped, and ran lions. He loved the outdoors and a long horseback ride so he could “just look around for a bit.”Roy will be welcomed to heaven by his parents, Don and Maggie, seven siblings and a host of other family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mickey Steele of Rangely; his son, Jesse Steele of Palisade; his daughter, Judy Allred of Rangely; five grandchildren, Justin, Ashley, and Kristen Steele, Angie Kenney, and Alecia Allred; three great-grandchildren, Aspen Steele and Aubrey and Rylee Kenney; one sister, Melva Ferrin; numerous nieces and nephews, and many family and friends who will miss him dearly. Roy leaves behind a legacy of strength, honor and integrity. He was called home to dwell in the Kingdom of God on May 10, 2011.
