Christie K. Steele

Christie K. Steele, 66 ESCONDIDO -- Christie K. Steele passed away in her sleep on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at San Diego Medical Center/Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Diego. Chris was born on June 6, 1944, in Fairbanks, Alaska to Russell and Alverra (Anderson) Keith. She was raised in Seattle and Anchorage, graduating from high school in Anchorage in 1962. She then attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, specializing in secondary education with a major in English. It was during her time at PLU that she met Roger D. Layman of Toppenish, Wash. They were married on March 30, 1964, and born to this union were two children - daughter, Toni and son, Scott. On March 18, 1974, she married James A. Steele. Jim's career with Bechtel as a construction management superintendent of nuclear power plant projects took them all over the word together, living in such places as the Tri-Cities, Korea, Mexico, Pennsylvania, and eventually settling in Escondido, Calif. Chris worked at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in Bonsall, Calif., for 19 years, where she met and remained friends with an amazing group of people. She was known as "the voice" of San Luis Rey, always projecting her calm and caring demeanor no matter what the circumstances may have been at the time.She was a huge animal lover, including horses and her beloved cat, Jessica. Chris was a beautiful person, both inside and out. Every day she touched so many lives and made everyone she came in contact with feel truly special. Chris is lovingly survived by her husband, Jim, of Escondido; daughter, Toni Koerner of Yakima, Wash.; son, Scott Layman of Yakima, Wash.; stepsons, James A. Steele, Jr. of Fresno, Calif., and Terry A. Steele of Sacramento, Calif.; grandchildren, Kassi and Kyle Koerner of Zillah, Wash., Michael, Jacob, and Allison Layman of Yakima, Wash.; great- granddaughter, Maci Koerner of Zillah, Wash.; brothers, Darrell (Roberta) Keith of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Gordon (Shirley) Keith of Eagle River, AK.; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Russell Keith in 1967; mother, Alverra Keith in 1997; and brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Don and Betty Keith, in 2005. A memorial service will be held in San Diego on Saturday, January 15, 2011. The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation and gratitude the many expressions of love, concern, and kindness shown to us by Dr. Barrie and Vaughan Grant, Aubyn Gominiak, Jan Sargent Beach, Tina Kemper, Bobbie Shirley, and Sandra Valdez, and the excellent care and compassion displayed by the physicians and staff of San Diego Medical Center. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com