Raymond Wayne Steeley, Sr.

Raymond Wayne Steeley, Sr., was born on Dec. 14, 1942, in Beaumont, Tx. His family moved to Vidor when he was a little boy. He attended Vidor schools from 1st-12thgrades, graduating in 1961. After graduation, Raymond joined the Navy, receiving a medical discharge after 6 months. Raymond met Rose Sharp in 1962. They married in 1967, and had 3 sons, Red, Lucas, & Sam. After Raymond & Rose divorced, he met & married Shirley Skiles, the love of his life. She had 3 boys of her own, Ronald, Ricky & Robert. Raymond was an asbestos insulator & a proud member of Insulators & Asbestos Workers Union Local 22. After suffering a debilitating back injury in 1985, Raymond retired & the family returned to Vidor, where they bought 26 acres on Dixie Drive. In 1997, Raymond & Shirley bought an old homeplace with a blueberry field in Village Mills. Lee Lack told them if they picked the blueberries, he would pack them. The rest is blueberry history. Above all, Raymond was a family man. He was a loving Husband and Father, a wonderful Grandpa & Great-Grandpa, and a most excellent Father-in-Law. Raymond was preceded in death by his parents Jay Berry and Lorene Steeley, brother Jay Berry, Jr., and infant sister, and step-son Robert Stubbs. He is survived by his wife Shirley Steeley, son Red Steeley and wife Becky, Lucas Steeley, and Sam Steeley, step-sons Ronald Stubbs and wife Pixie, and Ricky Stubbs, eight grandchildren: Kristina Steeley and fiance' James Olivier, Ethan Steeley and Shawntae Young, Trystan Hall, Krisanna Stubbs, Jonathan Mendoza, Kaisey Gonzales, Chloe and R.J. Stubbs, two great grandchildren: Gage Olivier and Maverick Steeley, and numerous friends, family, and blueberry growers. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor, with burial to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in Vidor. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at Memorial Funeral Home. After literally years of fighting one fatal illness after another, Raymond left this world for a better one on May 24,, 2013, at home with Shirley by his side. He will be sorely missed.