Mr. James Vernon Steele's Obituary
James Vernon Steele, 98, a Nashville resident for many years, died Friday, Sept. 14, at the Tennessee Veterans Home in Murfreesboro. Vernon, as his family called him, was born at home on a farm near Humboldt, TN, on Feb. 9, 1920, the son of Elbert E. and Esther Stinson Steele. Vernon was the third child in a family of eight and later told many funny and heartwarming stories about life during the Depression with his siblings, Harry, Katherine, Paul, Martha, Ed, Anita and Bill. There wasn’t much money in Depression era America but the Steeles were rich in love, music, and fun.
As a boy Vernon loved horses and taught himself to play the fiddle. He found much enjoyment in raising and showing Tennessee Walking horses during his adult life. He also continued playing his fiddle at family gatherings and later with a local band, The Music Valley Boys, in Nashville.
Vernon graduated from Humboldt High School and served as a motor pool sergeant in the European theater during World War II, in General George Patton’s Third Army. Friends knew him as James in the army and afterward when he came home. He married Ludie Maness on March 16, 1943, and in his last days he referred to his marriage as the best thing he had ever done. He and Ludie were happy together for 72 years until his beloved Ludie died in September, 2015. After Ludie’s death James was united with his childhood friend and sweetheart, Mary Lynn Downey, who helped him through his grief and brought him much joy.
James and Ludie raised two daughters, Jeanette (Janie) and Susan, in Humboldt. They moved to Nashville in 1976 where they became active members of Inglewood United Methodist Church and made many close friends. James and Ludie lived their faith and enjoyed many activities at church -- from feeding the homeless to Christmas parties for needy children, Sunday school gatherings and fundraising events.
Services will be held at Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, on Thurs., Sept. 20, at 2 pm. Visitation will be from 12-2, just before the funeral, and also on Wed. evening, Sept. 19, from 4-8. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (www.umcor.org). Arrangements by Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, a Nashville landmark since 1785 "Where Nashville Comes to Remember"
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