Gloria Steele

Steele, Gloria Naomi April 8, 1926 - February 14, 2012 Gloria Naomi (Barnett) Steele, aged 86, lost her long battle with cancer this past Tuesday, the 14th of February 2012. She died at home in Simi Valley, California. She was born on April 8, 1926 in Salem, Oregon. Her parents were William Earl and Mary (Henkes) Barnett. She had three brothers William Kenneth, Marion Thomas "Bud", and Thomas Earl "Tommy", and three sisters, Bonnie Virginia, Betty Lou, and Mary Dell. She married Donald Rex Steele on May 22, 1949. Widowed on March 11, 1958, she worked hard, often at multiple jobs, to provide for her three children. She believed firmly in the value of education and often worked multiple jobs to keep her kids in Catholic schools. She was particularly proud of her work as a young woman in a military aircraft engine assembly plant during the war and of her accomplishments at the Civilian Training Section at Army Air Forces Headquarters, Alaskan Wing - Air Transport Command at Great Falls Montana in 1945. In 1958 she was the winner of the popular TV show Queen for a Day. She was a firm believer in God, the Catholic church, and especially the Virgin Mary. She frequently prayed for others. Above all she loved her children and stressed strong family unity among them. She is survived by her three children: Thomas E. Steele and wife Sandy, Elizabeth E. LaRochelle and husband Steve, and Raymond E. Steele; 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; brothers Marion "Bud" Barnett and Thomas "Tommy" Barnett. She was preceeded in death by her husband Donald Rex Steele; brother William, and sisters Bonnie Virginia, Betty Lou, and Mary Dell. Memorial services will be at 11:00 O'clock am on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at the Rose Family Funeral Home, 4444 Cochran St., Simi Valley, California. Burial immediately following at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California. Reception following at the home of Steve and Liz LaRochelle 2458 Knightwood Place, Simi Valley, CA.