John Mason Steele

1945 - 2025

John Mason Steele

April 26, 1945 - August 7, 2025

RICHMOND, Va. John Mason Steele, 80, died Aug. 7, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Steele was a business owner and civic leader in Henrico County, Virginia, admired for his integrity and leadership.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Moody Steele, daughter Lynn Steele McGregor, and stepdaughter Savannah Harwood Rawlings, all of Richmond; sister Barbara "Squeek" Steele LaVake of Virginia City, Nevada; grandchildren Davis Mason McGregor and his wife Meagan of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Hannah McGregor of Bozeman, Montana; and step-grandchildren Silas Rawlings, Lu Rawlings, and Moth Rawlings of Richmond. He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer Mason Steele and Virginia Miller Steele of Ashland, Kentucky, and daughter Liza Steele of Richmond.

Mr. Steele was born in Ashland on April 26, 1945. He was a graduate of Paul Blazer High School in Ashland and received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University (Granville, Ohio) in 1967. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He began his career with Standard Oil Company (Ohio). After several positions of increasing responsibility, he moved with his family to Kansas City, Kansas, and then to Richmond in 1978, becoming president of East Coast Oil Company. He purchased the well-known Virginia chain of service stations and convenience stores known as "Little Sue" in 1996. Mr. Steele completed executive courses at the University of Virginia and Dartmouth College and was a member of the 1986 class of Leadership Metro Richmond. He served on the board of directors of the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America and, for 26 years, as a board member or chairman of the Economic Development Authority of the County of Henrico. The county's Board of Supervisors recognized him in 2020 for his wisdom and long service. Throughout his career, John Steele was admired for being a decisive employer with high standards who cared about his employees. His advice was invariably good.

John was a car enthusiast and enjoyed motorcycling, horseback riding, and shooting. After selling his business in 2008, he traveled with Elizabeth, exploring 36 countries and making new friends wherever they went. They enjoyed summer gatherings of their extended family and close friends for beach weeks at Corolla, North Carolina, rafting in the Grand Canyon, and horseback riding at the Gros Ventre River Ranch in Wyoming. In the last year, he spent more time with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren at his home overlooking the James River, inviting visitors to hit golf balls into the water and occasionally offering to wash their cars, a humorous, friendly man as always. He remained close to his dear friends Will Harlan and Martha Hartmann-Harlan, Chuck and Linda Duvall, Doug and Barbara Jones, and Jim and Beverly Donati. He appreciated the assistance of his aide Turkessa Spearman and trainer Hunter Rhoades. During his final days, friends shared grief and joy at having known him, remembering him as "a beautiful man," "a kind soul," and "a gentleman."

Private burial will be at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. The family will receive friends in Marble Hall at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday, August 25. Gifts in Mr. Steele's memory may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation (parkinson.org), Art 180 (art180.org), and Side by Side (sidebysideva.org).