Born in Pittsburgh, Okla., to Bert and Cora (Harris) Steele, George was raised in the tough times of America’s dustbowl. He was the ninth of 10 children. Often, he would remind his own children that his first pair of new shoes was at the age of 12.He enlisted in the Army at 18. While stationed at Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas he met and married the mother of his children, Jo Ramona Hunt, on November 18, 1950.After his military service he worked at The Denver Equipment Company, where his skills as a welder and machinist were honed. He owned and operated Steele’s Drilling Company where he drilled many private and commercial water wells in El Paso, Teller, Park, Douglas, and Fremont Counties until 1969 when he moved to work out of state.On December 31, 1977 he married Betty (Betts) Hanrahan, in Carson City, Nevada. She traveled with him everywhere including an Alaskan foray to pan for gold. Betts remained ever faithful by his side until his sudden death from a heart attack.His zest for life was obvious. He was active in politics, carrying petitions and working for water legislation. He played harmonica, violin, guitar and juice harp; yodeled, sang Western songs, tossed down a drink or two, chewed tobacco, and occasionally howled at the moon. As a student of politics and geology in the “real world,” George learned to love reading and read on many topics. An avid sportsman and hunter, he made his own bullets, fishing lures and flies. George was most noted for sharing his strong opinions, arguing about politics, Californians and geologists and entertaining family and friends with long tales as his Irish eyes twinkled and his cheeks dimpled with a devilish grin.He was loved and will be missed.George Edgar Steele was cremated on March 22, 2008. His internment will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado on April 25, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
