Ernest Gene Steele, 79, of Orange, passed away Sunday, February 2, 2014, at his home.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 6, 2014, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Pastor Kevin Trinkle and Pastor Jeff Bell. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. Serving as Pallbearers will be Chris King, J.B. Lanting, Mark Steele, Jr., Josh Tant, Chuck Ayarza and Jason Laughlin. Freddy Joe Laughlin will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Orange on October 18, 1934, Gene was the son of Robert Perry and Mittie (LeFleur) Steele. He attended Texas A&M University, had his amateur radio license and really enjoyed woodworking. He worked at Firestone in Orange and retired as an engineer at C.E. Lummus, had his pilot’s license and was a talented musician who played bass guitar along with several other instruments.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Nook Steele and Bunk Steele.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Doris Jane Steele of Orangefield; daughters, Vicki King of Bayou Vista and Mary Kay Lanting and husband, Fred of Orangefield and son, Mark Steele, Sr. and wife, Candice of Orangefield. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Chris King, Jane-Anne Ayarza, J.B. Lanting, Mark Steele, Jr., Jessica Tant, Dillin Lanting and Blake Steele; 12 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southeast Texas Hospice, P.O. Box 2385, Orange, TX 77631.

“K5EVE, signing off.”