Sarah is my guardian angel and I credit my significant healing to the grace of God and her participating with the means of that grace. She guides me in my prayers, and her purity of heart, both in life and in death, inspire me to be a light to others in a way that focuses on them rather than myself. Please take a moment to honor Sarah by reading her obituary and rejoicing in her resurrection into the heavens:
Sarah Lynn Steele was born on December 23, 1984 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She died on November 14, 2017 in Seattle. She was a graduate of Lake Washington High School (2003) and Seattle Pacific University (2007), and an active member of the Lake Washington United Methodist Church in Kirkland. She was born with a rare musculoskeletal disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), and over the course of her life suffered from other illnesses as well. Toxic shock syndrome and respiratory failure claimed her life. She was the beneficiary of extraordinary medical care throughout her life, and her family wishes to express both gratitude for her many caregivers and outrage at a national healthcare system that denies to so many the care that Sarah enjoyed. Despite her sufferings and limitations, Sarah’s joy in life and optimistic outlook were undimmed. She was an active member of the International FOP Association and had friends all over the world. She had a lovely voice, a sweet smile and a radiant, outgoing personality. She loved to sing, and was a member of the LWHS Concert Choir, the SPU Women’s Choir, and the LWUMC Chancel Choir. She also loved movies, theater productions, detective novels, shopping, handcrafts, keychain collecting and chocolate. And she herself was loved by all who knew her. Sarah is survived by her parents, Richard Steele and Marilyn Hair; her siblings, Jonathan and Mollie; aunts Nancy Hair, Sally Hair (Brian Reid) and Carolyn (Rob) Thomas; and several cousins.
Please, if able, visit the following website to make a donation to the International FOP Association in honor of Sarah Steele and her family:
The Richard B. Steele Compassion scholarship for African Americans at SPU
The terms of the endowment: “This endowment provides scholarships for American-born African American Seattle Pacific Seminary students, who demonstrate confidence in their call to pastoral ministry, and who are called to minister to largely African American or multicultural settings, and who are recommended by the Dean of the School of Theology with the aim of helping encourage and grow African American leadership in the church.”
The Endowment Honors Richard B. Steele: For more about Professor Steele, see his bio on the SPU website. What the website won’t tell you about is the extraordinary, selfless care he has faithfully extended to all of his students over a distinguished teaching career and that this career has its roots at the Milwaukee Theological Institute, which was founded in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement to provide ministerial training for inner city folks. As he describes it, at this institute, “a high-powered academic “class” could turn into a “prayer meeting” at the drop of a hat…and turn back into an academic class again just as quickly.” Dr. Steele’s research focuses on ministering to people with disabilities and also on civil rights, what he terms “prisoners of conscience” who have changed society with their vision and passion (see his book Ambassadors in Chains for more information).
SPU’s School of Theology – deeply invested in racial justice: Click here for the SPU School of Theology’s statement on their commitment to racial justice.
Here is a book review on Awakening to Justice, a book published by SPU’s Dialogue on Race and Faith project.
How do I donate? (Online – Please read all directions carefully):
Donations can be made online through the SPU website by clicking on the following link to the SPU Giving Page: https://give.spu.edu/SPSgiving-options. Once on the page you will be asked to specify that for which you are donating by selecting a drop down menu from the page.
The endowment is entitled the Richard B. Steele Compassion Seminary Scholarship for African Americans.
How do I donate? (By mail):
You are also welcome to donate by check through the mail by writing a check to Seattle Pacific University and writing “Richard Steele Endowment” in the memo line. Please mail the check to the following address:
Director of Advancement
Seattle Pacific University
3307 Third Ave. W., Ste 304
Seattle, WA 98119-1957
Thank you so much!!!!!
