Alton Ray Steelman

Alton Ray Steelman entered into eternal rest on November 25, 2021, surrounded by family.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 29, 2021, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at  Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Bill Sutton officiating.  Burial will follow in Waites Cemetery at Reagan.

Pallbearers will be Greg Truett, Lance Barker, David Watson, Jason Williams, Keith Tilley, and Robert Moffat. Honorary pallbearers will be Mickey Barker and Ronnie Truett and -in memory- Billy Sutton.

Alton was born on November 28, 1953, to Herschal and Nadine (Clamon) Steelman in Odessa.  During his childhood he lived in Robert Lee, until the family moved to Groesbeck when he was in the seventh grade.  Alton graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1972.

Alton started work at Dugan Trailers while he was still in high school.   He started working as a tire guy, and Mr. Dugan taught him welding, allowing him to become head welder on the team that was building a trailer a day.  Alton gave Mr. Dugan credit for giving kids an opportunity to work, and for teaching him everything about working hard and welding.

Alton went to work for the City of Groesbeck, working in the water and sewer department and doing electrical work.   He was a hard worker and met and made friends of many people throughout the community that he called home.  Alton retired from the City of Groesbeck in 2016, as a supervisor, after 27 years of service.

Alton loved to work, and he loved to help people.  He was a very kind and gentle soul.   His days of working hard were the reason he could eat Debbie’s good cooking, especially his favorite – oatmeal raisin cookies, and not gain any weight.

When resting at home after a day’s work, Alton had a passion for reading the paper and watching the news.   During his retirement years when he was not out in public, he was devoted to his kitties.   He loved his grandchildren – they were his pride and joy, and his advice to each of them, based on his own life, was “you need to work.”

Alton is preceded in death by his parents, Herschel and Nadine Steelman; niece Tammy Campbell and nephew Billy Sutton.

He is survived by his wife Debbie Schneider; children, Damon and wife Tory Steelman, Stephanie Czajkowski, and Nathan Czajkowski; grandchildren, Hannah Czajkowski, Alexis, Cade, Hampton, Ethan, Austin and Savannah Steelman; sisters Barbara Seay,  Carolyn and Mikey Barker, Marolyn and Ronnie Truett; nieces, nephews, and close family friends, Bill Sutton and Barbara Neumeyer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzhiemer’s Association to help further research to treat and prevent all forms of this disease.