Wilma Jane Steele

Wilma Jane (Burnett) Steele, 81, of Vergennes, went to be with her Lord and Savior at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2013 in her home with her family by her side.

She was born to the late William and Marie (Lowe) Burnett, Aug. 2, 1931 in Elkville, Ill. Wilma graduated from Elkville High School in 1949 and soon began working in the office of Dr. William Scott in Elkville. On Jan. 1, 1952 in Pickett, Arkansas, she married Guy Gene Steele, a farmer from Vergennes, where they began their 61 years of marriage working the land and milking dairy cows. In the mid 1970's Wilma became a technician in the X-ray department at St. Joseph"s Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro. In 1986 Wilma went to work at the Vergennes Post Office as a post office replacement worker. After retiring from the farm, Wilma became the coordinator of the Elm Street Baptist Church Food Pantry. Her truest joy in life was to make others happy and to aid those who needed a helping hand.

Wilma is survived by her husband- Guy Gene Steele of Vergennes, two sons- Jack (Carolyn) Steele of Wright, Wyo. and Mark (Staci) Steele of Vergennes, five grandchildren- Rick Hale of Wright, Wyo., Randy (Heather) Steele of Coulterville, Nicci Olenkiewicz of Elkville, Brock Steele of Vergennes and Lucas Steele of Vergennes, seven great grandchildren- Brayden Hale of Forth Walton, Fla., Taryn (Levi) Duff of Wright, Wyo., Kalyn Hale of Carbondale, Chase Steele of Murphysboro, Ashlyn Buck of Elkville, Mason Olenkiewicz of Elkville,Jaxson Steele of Coulterville and Raylend Steele of Coulterville, two great great grandchildren- Taytum Duff of Wright, Wyo. and Kannin Duff of Wright, Wyo.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the Elm Street Baptist Church in Murphysboro with Rev. Charles Allen officiating.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church on Tuesday.

Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove Memorial Park at Murphysboro.

Friends may make memorials to the Hospice of Southern Illinois or the Elm Street Baptist Church Food Pantry and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.