Vicki L Steele

Vicki Lynn Steele, age 70, passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Vicki was born Vicki Lynn Shepherd on September 9, 1954 to Charles and Bessie Shepherd at the Elm Hurst Hospital in Angola, Indiana. She graduated from Angola High School in 1972, and married her life-long love, a young Marine, named Wayne Steele on December 16 of that year. This began her 42-year journey as a Marine's wife, mother, and steadfast advocate of Marines and their families. She consistently gave of herself to support those families who had husbands deployed throughout the world; at times moving them into her home if they had no place to go or needed someone to be with them. She became the go-to mom for kids who were having difficulties at home or needed a guiding hand. Family services and the Military Police would say, "Let's take them to mom's house. She will care for them and get them back on the right track." Vicki had a heart of gold and would fight every day for her Marine families and those Marines within Wayne's command. In 2011 she was awarded the honorary title of "Moma Vicki" by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and that's what she was called by the wives and kids she helped from that time on. Vicki supported 16 moves and numerous overseas deployments of Wayne, while holding down the fort at home over 41 years of service. In addition to her service to the Marines, she pursued a career in the medical field and was an active supporter of the Scouting Program and youth sports for more than 50 years. In 2013 both Vicki and Wayne retired from their life of service to their country and the Marine Corps and moved to Estill Springs, Tennessee, where they attended the Hillsboro Methodist Church. Vicki is survived by her husband Wayne, her four boys, Matthew, James, Kevin, and Scott as well as their wives, her eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her niece Crystal Case, who she considered to be her daughter, and her two children.

Visitation will be held Sunday, August 17, 2025, from 1:00pm until 3:00pm with funeral services with Order of the Eastern Star services following at 3:00pm in the chapel of Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN, with Bro. Danny Freeman officiating. Burial will follow at Hillsboro Methodist Cemetery in Hillsboro, TN.

Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the Steele family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com