Mrs. Carolyn Botts Steele

Mrs. Carolyn Jean Botts Steele, 71, a long time resident of Albany, Georgia, passed away peacefully Friday, June 30, 2017 at Willson Hospice House in Albany. Visitation will be held at Kimbrell-Stern Wednesday, July 5, 2017 from 5:00PM until 7:00 PM. A funeral mass will be held at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church on Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 2:00PM. The Rev. Raymond G. Levreault, V.F. will officiate. A private interment will be held at a family plot later this weekend in Greencastle, Indiana. Carolyn Jean Botts was born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Botts in Owensboro, Kentucky, September 7, 1945. She graduated from St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1963. She attended Fontbonne College in St. Louis, Missouri and Fuggazi College of Business in Lexington, Kentucky. Carolyn was employed at IBM Lexington when she married Jack Steele at Christ the King Catholic Church in Lexington, Kentucky on May 18, 1968. They moved to Pullman, Washington for 2 years where she gave birth to Michael Craig in January, 1970. The family moved to Albany, Georgia later that year where Jack started teaching at Albany State College. Carolyn gave birth to Rebecca in December, 1971, and Jeffrey Scott (Toby) in August, 1974. She attended St. Teresa’s Catholic Church where she was an active volunteer. She was also a Brownie Troop Leader and Girl Scout volunteer. Carolyn returned to work in the mid 1980’s and volunteered with Birthright. Carolyn moved to United Way and worked as a secretary and bookkeeper. She retired from United Way in 2005. Carolyn was a passionate reader and enjoyed overseas travel. She loved animals and included pets as family. Carolyn also enjoyed exploring genealogy and joined Clan Donnachaidh from her mother’s Scottish heritage. She also enjoyed bit parts in local television as a member of “the undead audience” on The Count Murray Show, and did a PSA on stroke 10 years later. Carolyn had gifts for languages. She could easily pick up foreign languages and could translate her experiences into entertaining stories. Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, Robert P. Botts of Winchester, Kentucky, and her first son, Michael Craig Steele. She is survived by her husband, Jack Steele; her mother, Kathleen D. Botts; a daughter, Rebecca Blackshear and her husband, Danny; her youngest, Jeff Steele; and a granddaughter, Julia Long. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Willson Hospice House, 320 Foundation Lane, Albany, GA 31707 or to St. Teresa’s Church, 421 Edgewood Lane, Albany, GA 31707. To share your thoughts with the Steele family you may visit our website at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Mrs. Carolyn Botts Steele

September 7, 1945 - June 30, 2017