Shirley Lakin Steele’s Death

Shirley L. “Ted” Steele died on October 9, 1952 at age 74, in Escalon, California. He was the third child of T.C. Steele and first wife Mary Elizabeth (Lakin) Steele. Born in Indianapolis, July 15, 1878, Shirley attended Manual Training High School in Indianapolis and left for California in 1912. There he became secretary of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.

His wife Amira Jane “Daggett” Steele, called “Mira” was also born in Indianapolis in 1877. Shirley and Mira were married in Indianapolis in the fall of 1901. Note: some public records spell the name Myra D. Steele.

Shirley and Almira Steele had one daughter, Margaret Daggett Steele who was born in Redlands, (San Bernardino County), California. She died August 4, 1975, at 71 years and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland (Alameda County), California. She was never married and had no children. Margaret received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College, June 13, 1927.  Mills College is a private liberal arts and sciences college in Oakland, California. She was a Red Cross Officer for 25 years. 

Shirley’s two older siblings were Rembrandt (Brandt) (Nov. 16, 1870), and Margaret (Daisy) (July 7, 1872).  Brandt and Daisy were both born in Battle Creek, Michigan where their father was doing commissioned work. Note: T.C. Steele had two children who died in infancy (Charlie and Mary). Of the three siblings (Rembrandt, Margaret, Shirley), Margaret (Daisy), would die next on November 10, 1955 at her home in Oakland, California.