Rolland C. Steele

FLORENCE - Rolland C. Steele, 88, of Florence died Dec. 7, 2007 at RTA Hospice House in Casa Grande.


A Masonic memorial service will be held in January.

Mr. Steele was born Aug. 1, 1919 in Monterey, Minn., to Correl R. and Marie Steele. He learned from his father and became a finish carpenter at age 17. At 18 he went to California. In Long Beach he met his future wife, Beulah Mae Haire, form Tulsa, Okla. They were married in 1941 and celebrated 40 years of marriage before she died. He learned the trades of cosmetology and tool- and die-making before serving in the infantry.

In 1946 he moved to Medford, Ore., and owned a beauty salon. Six years later he moved to Oxnard, Calif., and opened a real estate business, which thrived for 45 years. In 1991 he moved to Springfield, Ore., to be with Dorothy Dybevik, his high school sweetheart and late-life companion. In 2005 he moved to assisted living in Ventura, Calif., near his son, Robert C. "Bob" Steele. This year he moved to Florence to live with his daughter, Marilyn Spencer. He was a life member, charter secretary and past president of Oxnard Noontimers Lions Club. He also was past president of Oxnard Shrine Club and past president of Oxnard Masonic Lodge. He was a member of Oxnard Elks, Eugene Elks, Eugene Scottish Rite Masons, Eugene Springfield Shrine Club and Al Kadar Shrine Temple in Portland, Ore.

In addition to his son and daughter, survivors include a sister, Ruby Wallace of St. Paul, Minn.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud Coolidge Chapel is in charge of arrangements.