Julia Steele
January 3, 1923 — February 4, 2011
Home at Last. Julia Boyter Steele, 89, returned to her heavenly home, February 4, 2011. She was born in Spry, Utah, January 3, 1922, to Carlisle and Julia Belle LeFevre Boyter and was born the fourth of seven children. She had a happy childhood with many fond memories growing up on the family farm. At the age of seven, Julia and her family moved to Panguitch, Utah, having many adored experiences. She belonged to the 4-H Club and won many ribbons at the fair for the articles she made. She was Vice-President of her Junior Class, artist of the yearbook and queen of the Springtime Dance. She played the clarinet and twirled the baton through high school and in the high school bands.
Funeral services will be held, Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in the Panguitch LDS Stake Center. Friends may call at the stake center, in Panguitch, on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Internment will be in the Panguitch Cemetery. Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.
After Julia graduated from Panguitch High School, she became employed by the Telephone Company, as a telephone operator.
During a three-day wartime Christmas break, Julia married her childhood sweetheart, Keith Steele, December 27, 1941, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and together they moved to San Diego, California, where they were blessed with three children, Clifford, DeLores and Raymond. There marriage was later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, 1957.
In 1955, Julia and Keith moved home to Salt Lake City, establishing a family business, which was attached to their home, called Keith’s Hobby House. For 30 years, Julia and Keith worked side-by-side, as she contributed her vast knowledge and expertise to the world of crafts, trains, planes, and automobiles. Together they raised their children in this unique environment, teaching them the joy of hard work and family values. In 1983, Julia and Keith retired to their old stomping grounds, where they met and fell in love, Panguitch, Utah.
Julia was a faithful and valiant member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served tirelessly her entire life. Julia served on two Sunday School Stake Boards, in the Liberty and Salt Lake Park Stakes. When Julia retired to Panguitch, she was called to serve as the Relief Society President, of the Panguitch Third Ward, later serving as the Stake Relief Society President of the Panguitch Utah Stake. She has served in all auxiliaries as a valued teacher and leader. She also enjoyed her association with the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and has served in many community affairs.
Julia loved living in Panguitch and took great delight as she and Keith served as hosts for General Authorities and prominent visitors. Together, they hosted town gatherings, reunions, weddings and funerals, preparing meals and lodgings for hundreds of family, friends and neighbors. Her home has been a gathering place for sewing and quilting bees, along with mass cooking and candy making sessions… oh how we’ll miss her famous fudge and hearing the laughter and giggles she shared with her beloved sisters, Neucile and Belle.
Julia was a masterful homemaker, organized, immaculate and her home beautifully decorated, with a door always open and inviting. She loved to crochet, embroider, cook, sew, and create and paint ceramics. Together, she and Keith designed and built award winning floats. She loved collecting dolls and dishes. She was magic with little children and loved them dearly. She made friends easily and built life-long relationships wherever she lived. She was a devoted wife and an exceptional mother, always giving her all in sacrifice, love, care and devotion. She was quiet and unassuming as she went about doing good and left this world a better place because she graced it by her gentle touch. May God be with you until we meet again
Survived by her loving husband, Keith Steele, of Panguitch, Utah; two sons, Clifford (Gloria) Steele, of Leeds, Utah; Raymond (Edith) Steele, of West Valley City, Utah, and one daughter, DeLores Steele Silfvast of Taylorsville, Utah. She leaves behind 14 grandchildren and 32 great-grand children. Survived by two brothers, George (Renee) Boyter and Harold (Rita Jean) Boyter.
Preceded in death by parents; two brothers, Milton Boyter and Clinton Boyter, and two sisters, Belle Smith and Neucille Henrie.