Oct. 30, 1933 ~ Sept. 24, 2024
Please join us to celebrate the life of James Douglas Steele.
James, 90, passed away on Sept. 24, 2024, at the VA Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, surrounded by loved ones.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Foundation Creek Ranch. He will be laid to rest in the Steele Family Cemetery. Arrangements are by Callahan-Edfast Mortuary in Grand Junction, Colorado. Flower arrangements can be delivered to Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.
James was born at Big Foundation Creek Ranch on Oct. 30, 1933, to Milton C. and Doris E. Steele. He always said he was a treat because he missed being born on Halloween. His mother may not have agreed with that comment. James spent two years (June 1953 – May 1955) in the U.S. Army followed by eight years in the Army Reserves. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
There are many words used to describe James, Jim or Jimmy. In his younger years, he enjoyed the rodeo scene and riding saddle broncs. He was working at the Gilsonite Mine in Bonanza, Utah, when he met and then married Savannah J. Mueller on Oct. 15, 1962, in Rangely, Colorado. They lived in the Rangely area and on the family homestead all but two years of their lives which was spent running a ranch at the mouth of Piceance Creek. He spent a few years pipelining for W. C. Striegel, Inc. but after breaking his leg he returned to ranching and started pumping wells. He is known for the belted (Oreo) cows he ran on Douglas Creek. He enjoyed going to Denver Bronco games and was an avid fan which showed in the color of his side-by-side, garage, sheds, and roof of his house.
James is survived by his children Rita Z. Sander (Jim) of Sun City, Arizona; Anthony “Bud” E. Badeaux of Clifton, Colorado; Camille Call of Hereford, Arizona; Peggy A. Aplanalp (Darrell) of Rangely, Colorado; Bryan R. Steele of Salmon, Idaho; and Rose M. Branson (Greg) of Rangely, Colorado; Jennie J. Mott (sister) of Rangely, Colorado, and Virginia Tillotson (sister) of Kennewick, Washington, plus nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by Savannah J. Steele (wife), Mike D. Steele (son), Milton C. and Doris E. Steele (parents), George M. Steele (brother), Clark “Bill” F. Steele (brother), Don L. Steele (brother), Eleanor “Tiny” Alfred (sister), Dorothy “Dot” Clements (sister), Mary Bagley (sister), June Vaughn (sister) and John M. Steele (brother).
A special thank you to Big D’s, Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, W. C. Striegel, Inc. and Utah Gas.
