William Thomas Steele

William Thomas Steele was born on July 8, 1937, in Moutainaire, New Mexico, to George and Nellie Steele. Bill was raised in Estancia, New Mexico on his family’s Pinto Bean farm where he learned the value of hard work and farming. Bill graduated from Estancia High School in 1955 where he was an outstanding athlete, making All State, playing all the sports his school had to offer. Bill was captain of the football team and Betty Martin Steele was his homecoming queen. Bill and Betty were voted “Best All Around” by their classmates. Bill and Betty married in October 1955 and Bill went to work for Southwestern Bell/AT&T. Bill and Betty adopted three babies into their home to complete their family: Randy at 2 days old, Rick at 5 months old and Ren at 9 months old. Southwestern Bell/AT&T moved Bill and family to Aurora, Colorado for 3 years while Bill went to “Telephone School.” In 1973 Bill moved the family to Northwest Arkansas and began to work for AT&T in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Bill was the first person from AT&T to help televise the Arkansas Razorback Football and Basketball games. Bill was happy when he was able to get his boys’ press tickets to enjoy the games he televised. In the early eighties Bill went on to put in the 911 System in Arkansas. Bill enjoyed a 43-year career with AT&T. Although Bill loved his job with Ma Bell, his true love was farming. Bill and Betty bought “Spring Valley Farm” in 1973 from Dr. John and Alice Gratten eight miles east of Siloam Springs. Bill had a beautiful farm; people would often stop and tell him how beautiful it looked with the black Angus cows grazing in the rolling pastures. Bill sold one hundred acres to create a Pine Forrest, with the stipulation that homes were never to be built on the land which stands to this day. Bill loved to plant a huge garden every year and word got out that his watermelons were so sweet! Even Father Rimes from the Catholic church in Siloam would visit Bill. Ever the gentleman, Bill would load Father Rimes with watermelons and cantaloupes for his trip back to town. Besides farming, Bill took up golf. Bill was an accomplished golfer. In fact, he and Betty were “Club Champions” at Dawn Hill Country Club for 8 years running. After retirement, Bill and Betty played golf nearly every day. At one time, they were members of three golf courses at the same time! Bill, ever the gentleman, would always allow Razorback Coach Houston Nutt to play with him when Houston was on the outs with the “Las Vegas Bunch” at Fayetteville Country Club. Bill tried to get his kids to take up golfing…. The only one that showed little interest was Renetta, but she was too short to get power behind her swing. Bill finally did make a golfer out of his grandson, Andrew Reyes. Bill and Andrew played in numerous tournaments over the years. Bill and Betty took great delight in driving Andrew to tournaments during his 2-year stint with the South-Central Junior PGA when he was in junior high school. Bill will always be remembered for the kind, quick witted gentleman that he was. As Bill goes to join his family members in heaven, he leaves behind loving members of his family: Sisters: Norma Peterson and Nelda Stafford, both of New Mexico. Son; Randall Steele and wife Valerie of Siloam Springs, AR. Daughter; Renetta Steele Reyes and husband Dr. Ruben Reyes of Yukon, OK. Daughter Teri Browers Carnes and husband Joe of Jay, OK. Grandchildren: Stevie Rae Steele, Ricky Steele, Jessie Steele and husband Clay Brown, Amanda Woolsey and husband Steven, Matthew Bayliss and wife Audrey, Andrew Reyes, Kinsey Reyes, and Summer McVickers. Seven great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and a host of nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held for Bill from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, at Wasson Funeral Home, 441 Hwy 412 W., Siloam Springs, AR. A graveside funeral will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m., at Yell Cemetery, Yell Cemetery Rd, Siloam Springs, AR., with Pastor Chip Reagan officiating. To sign the online guestbook, please visit: www.wassonfuneralhome.com

Tributes

William Thomas Steele

July 8, 1937 - March 28, 2025