Katherine V. "Kay-Dee" Steele, 87, of the Chicora Medical Center, formerly of Petrolia, died at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday at Butler Memorial Hospital after an illness. She had lived at the medical center since August 2004.

Born in Karns City, Aug. 29, 1918, she was a daughter of John Thomas Stewart and Josephine "Josie" Barger Stewart.

She was a member of the Petrolia Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Steele was a 1937 graduate of Karns City High School and worked in the purchasing department at the Koppers Chemical Co. in Petrolia and retired in 1980 after 39 years.

Surviving are two stepdaughters and caregivers, Mrs. A. Cathy (Frank) Leone and Mrs. Anna M. (Vincent) Travaglio, both of Butler; a stepson, Michael M. Steele Jr. of Hooker; a nephew, Donald J. Stewart Jr., and his wife, Darla, of Bruin; 12 step-grandchildren; 16 step- great-grandchildren; and a step-great-great-grandchild. Also surviving are 13 grandnieces, four great-grandnieces and a great-grandnephew.

Her husband, Michael M. Steele, Sr., whom she married July 3, 1958, in Butler, died Nov. 5, 1999.

As the last surviving member of her immediate family, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Edward "Ted" and Donald J. Stewart Sr., and a sister, Mrs. Carrie Stevenson.

<B>STEELE</B> — Friends of Katherine V. " Kay-Dee" Steele, who died Wednesday, May 10, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Richard d. Hillis funeral home</B>, 102 Argyle St., Petrolia. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Rowe officiating. Burial will follow at the Bear Creek Cemetery, Petrolia.