Florence Marie Steele, age 83, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2004, at her home in Richland, WA.

Florence was born August 13, 1920, in Lostine, Oregon and was raised in Portland, Oregon.  She married Charles C. Steele December 28, 1941.  During World War II, she served with the Army Corps of Engineers and attended Oregon State College getting her degree in Home Economics.

They moved to Richland in 1947 and raised a family - daughter, Sharon and son, Charles.  She worked for DSHS in child protective services as a caseworker for foster kids, retiring in 1984 after 20 years.

A lifelong artist, she enjoyed ceramics, water colors and oil painting.  Her artwork was on exhibit several times at fairs and in local businesses.  Art evolved to roses.  She and Chuck planted a 100 plant rose garden in their yard.

In her later years, she divided her time between Richland and her second home in Las Vegas, returning each Spring to sit on her back patio in Richland where she would sip wine and view her rose garden.

She was a member of the Allied Arts of Richland and the American Rose Society.

She was a plank member of Claar Cellars and became known to various wineries as “the Little Old Lady in the Blue Cadilac” a nomenclature she enjoyed to the last.

Florence is survived by sisters, Beverly Schultz and Hazel Handley, both of Las Vegas; daughter, Sharon, of Kennewick and son, Charles, of Seattle.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck.

Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 9, 2004, in Sunset Memorial Gardens. There will be a gathering of friends and family at Florence’s home on Hunt Ave. from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Tri-City Cancer Center 7350 W. Deschutes Ave. Kennewick WA 99336 or Macular Degeneration Fund @ Casey Eye Institute, 3375 SW Terwilliger Blvd. Portland, OR 97201-4197.