Laverne Clifton Steedley, 88, of Millport, AL. passed away April 28, 2023 at Park Manor Nursing Home in Northport, AL. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Dowdle Funeral Home in Millport, AL. with Bro. Danny Thompson officiating. Visitation will follow the service in the chapel. Internment will be at Walnut Grove Cemetery.
L.C. was born on April 23, 1935 to E.C. and Mary Steedley. He was a beloved educator, farmer, and an avid hunter. He graduated from Baldwin County High School, Memphis State University and received his Masters Degree plus from the University of Alabama. He played football for Baldwin County High school, Memphis State University, and the US Air Force and for a time, played professional football in the Canadian Football League.
Mr. Steedley taught school and coached for 34 years in Baldwin, Choctaw, and Lamar counties, serving his community as superintendent of education in Lamar County for eight years. He was a member and deacon of Mt. Harmony Free Will Baptist Church for many years.
He was blessed to live his dream of owning and running an award-winning Alabama Treasured Forest and Cattle farm in the Millport area.
He was an avid hunter, traveling and hunting throughout the US and Canada with all his hunting buddies. Hunting for moose, elk, and ice fishing were among his favorite pastimes.
He is survived by his wife Kathalia (Kaye) Steedley, two daughters Nan Steedley (Richard Cucchiara), Jancy Steedley-Avant (Calvin Avant) and two granddaughters Evelynn Lucille (Lucy) Avant and Kathalia Nicole (Nico) Avant. Five brothers and sisters: Anne Kennedy, Joyce Sutton, Irma Kern, Emory Steedley, and Dwight Steedley. He is preceded in death by two sisters Jeanette Mellown and Mary Katherine Steedley.
Pallbearers will be Frankie Beasley, Ricky Owens, Phil Wheeler, Terry Perkins, Billy Rogers, and Dillard Matthews.
All Mr. Steedley's hunting buddies are serving as honorary pallbearers.
