Pansy Leona Steele

Pansy Leona Steele BANDY, Va. Mrs. Pansy Leona Steele, age 94, passed away Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, in a Richlands, Va., hospital following a lengthy illness. She was born Aug. 23, 1916, in Canebrake, W.Va., and was the daughter of the late George Vince and Hattie Christian Bandy. Pansy was a lifelong Christian, devoted mother, wife, and grandmother. She was a member of the Bandy Chapel Church, where she served faithfully for 62 years as the church pianist. She was recognized as the church "Mother." Her first love was her love for her God. She was a member of the Red Hat Club and was as avid gardener and had a gift with flowers. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Steele; two sons, Vinson Steele and William Steele Jr.; seven siblings, Kathleen Beavers, George Vince Bandy Jr., Bobby Bandy, Janice Reid, Medarae Barnett, Herman Bandy, and Delbert Bandy; and one grandchild, Mark Steele. Survivors are four daughters, Shirley Rust and husband, Robert, of Johnson City, Tenn., Peggy Hawthorne and husband, Bill, of Atlanta, Katye Ramey and husband, Jim ,of Bluefield, Va., Bonnie Niemi and husband, Richard, of Draper, Va.; three sons, Buddy Steele and wife, Joan, of Knoxville, Md., Doug Steele of Cedar Bluff, Va., and Jimmy Steele and wife, Judy, of Bristol Virginia; two daughters-in-law, Linda Steele and Mary Steele of Cedar Bluff; two sisters, Rosa Bell Altizer of Amonate, Va., and Joanne Copeland of Wetumpka, Ala.; two brothers, Bernard Bandy of Baptist Valley, Va., and Bill Bandy of Pounding Mill, Va.; 15 grandchildren, Todd Steele, LaRhonda Lindsey, Shane Steele, Tamitha Durham, Kim Payne, Teresa Reid, Denise Marchigiani, Crystal Frey, Melissa Muir, Anthony Steele, Latisha Steele, Jeff Farmer, Bridgette Brown, Marty Garrett, and Bryant Garrett; 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild also survive. Funeral services for Pansy Leona Steele will be conducted Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. at 2 p.m. at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Va., with the Rev. Walter Jessee, the Rev. Barry Jessee, and the Rev. Bob Steele officiating. Interment will follow at the Steele Family Cemetery near Bandy. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Bandy, Baylor Guy, the Rev. Max Linkous, Richard Bentley, and Johnny Sparks. Friends may call after 6 p.m. Saturday evening at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com