Jerry Steele

Jerry Steele, age 73, of Oak Ridge, passed away Saturday, July 28, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

He was born December 18, 1938 in Houston, Miss., the son of Will and Mattie Lee Buchanan Steele.

Mr. Steele served with the U.S. Army in Germany, where he was a military policeman.

After employment with Oak Ridge Associated Universities for 19 years, Mr. Steele retired from the Oak Ridge Research Institute, where he was a lab technician.

He was a member of the Methodist AME Zion Church of Houston, Miss. He enjoyed reading, gardening and working in his yard. He also loved debating political and current events.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary Cherry Steele; daughters, Jerri Lynn Mitchell of Oak Ridge and Kristi Steele and husband Shane of Sterling, Va.; sisters, Louise Mills and Willie Mae Young of Oak Ridge and Roena Atkinson of Erie, Pa.; nine grandchildren, Roger, Lynn, Clintaya, Tanisha, Freddie, Cierra, Christopher, Ethan, and Skylar; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. The funeral will begin at 12 p.m. with Rev. Churchill Moore officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.