Douglas Francis Steele

Doug Steele, beloved father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on March 30, 2023, after a month-long battle of health complications while recovering from back surgery.

Doug was born on October 25, 1949, in Delta, Utah to Stanley Lindsay Steele and Emma Faye Hunsaker. He was number 5 of 8 children and spoke often of the fun he had (and often trouble he got into) growing up in small town Delta. As a teenager his family moved north to Salt Lake where he attended West High School and was a three-sport letterman in football, wrestling, and track. Football was by far his favorite to play and watch. He has been a die-hard BYU football fan his whole life (a passion he passed down to his children) and has had season tickets since 1972. Doug also loved hunting, fishing, golf, Utah Jazz Basketball (another passion he passed to his children), and theater. He long dreamed of being John Wayne or a star on Broadway, a dream which he would have fulfilled if it hadn’t been for his, as he said, “lack of singing, dancing, or acting skills.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been an important part of Doug’s life and as a young man he served a proselyting mission in the Australia South Mission from 1968 to 1970. He was always grateful for the hope and blessings that he has received at Heavenly Father’s hands and knows that God has blessed him and Martie Smith with the greatest children, which have been the absolute joy of his life.

Doug will be remembered for his gift of gab and all the stories he loved to tell. He was also loving, loyal, compassionate, friendly, quick to laugh, tender-hearted, righteous, and most of all family oriented. He loved his family with every ounce of his existence and counted himself richest among men to be a father to such a family. Doug always made his children and grandchildren his top priority, never missing an event and supporting them in all their numerous activities including sports (football, soccer, baseball, cheerleading, tumbling), recitals, concerts, pageants, plays, and Grandparent’s Day at school. He would be the first to arrive at any family gathering and the last to leave because he was deep in conversation.

Doug had a profound effect on the people around him. When he entered a room, he brought with him a sense of optimism and joy that made others feel happier and more at ease (both human and animal alike). He lifted those that might be feeling down, stressed, or needing counsel. His positivity was contagious. He created a sense of joy, excitement, and enthusiasm that was felt by all, and he inspired others to be their best selves.

The only people he didn’t like in life were referees.

We are comforted to know that he was reunited with his father, who passed away in 1983, and his sweet mother, who passed in 2020, whom he was dearly devoted to. He is also preceded in death by his siblings Lindsay and Kathy. He is survived by his five children, Jeremy (Melanie) of Naperville IL, Brandon (Kathryn) of Syracuse UT, Aimee (Dan) of Clearfield UT, Scott (Jaime) of Farmington UT, Zak (Kendra) of North Salt Lake UT, and five siblings, Gary (Jean), Robert (Ruth), Karen (Bob), Paul (Cindy), and Mike, 15 adoring grandchildren, and many Hunsakers and Steeles abroad. He is also survived by his former wife and friend, mother to his children, Martie Smith.