Jeffrey Steele

YADKINVILLE — Jeffrey "Jeff" Boggess Steele of Lone Hickory in Yadkinville, died peacefully Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, at Novant Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte after a three-month illness. Jeff was born June 27, 1950, in Statesville to F. Montgomery and Elaine B. Steele. He graduated from Statesville High School in 1968. Jeff was always adventurous and inventive. As a young person he constructed many things, including leading neighborhood friends in building a three stall horse barn. He took up rock climbing and backpacking as a teen, and later became accomplished at sailing his catamaran and piloting small airplanes. Jeff earned a welding degree with honors,worked as a skilled carpenter, in repair/maintenance, as an insurance salesman, in real estate, and as a personal financial investor. He learned many trades, including how to rebuild a 1946 Cessna 140 airplane engine. Jeff was a dedicated and loving father. He was an active member of Faith Fellowship Church in Yadkinville. He had been a member of EAA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and The Heritage Foundation. He was passionate about social and political issues, and helping those in need. Jeff is survived by his mother, Elaine B. Steele of The Pines, Davidson; his daughter, Carey Marie Steele of Bethel, Alaska; and son, Jeffrey Stephen Swicegood of Hillsborough; a sister, Leslee S. Jameson of Monroe and her husband, Ron; a brother, Richard B. Steele of Arden and his wife, Linda; a sister, Elaine S. Johnson of Roanoke Rapids and her husband, Mark; as well as nieces and nephews, Laurel Jameson, Jordan Jameson and his wife, Kylie, Katheranne Steele, Eden Steele, and Bridger Steele and his wife, Carla, and their newly arrived daughter, Lillian Elaine Steele, Madalyn Johnson and Bryson Johnson. Jeff's father was the late F. Montgomery Steele of Statesville. The family would like to thank caregivers and hospital staff for their care during Jeff's illness, Wake Forest Baptist, Select Specialty, Forsythe, Asbury Care Center, and Presbyterian Hospital. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, at Faith Fellowship Church, 5212 U.S. 601, Yadkinville, NC 27055, at 2 p.m. The church will open at 1:30 p.m. There will be a reception following the service at Jeff's house in Yadkinville. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 124 N. Meeting St., Statesville, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, at 3 p.m., not on Aug. 30, as previously announced. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the charity or religious organization of your choice. Some of Jeff's favorite charities were Heifer International (www.heifer.org), Samaritan's Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org), Delete Blood Cancer (www.deletebloodcancer.org), and Faith Fellowship Church (see address above).