Mary Jo (Joyce) Steed of Morgan Hill was born on March 13, 1942 in Long Beach, CA. She passed away at home on July 27, 2007 at the age of 65, after nearly twelve years courageously battling emphysema. Mary had a love for animals that started when she was very young, riding horses on the beach and working on the family dairy as a child. The family moved the dairy to Modesto where Mary graduated from Downing High School.
Shortly after that, Mary moved to the Bay Area where she met and married her husband Fred Steed and raised their three children, Debra, William and Fred. With Fred she gained two daughters, Linda and Deborah Steed. She helped raise many children and animals throughout her happy life. Mary always laughed and looked on the bright side of everything. She got a job as a veterinary assistant in Campbell to help contribute more to her family and satisfy her love of animals. In 1970 the family bought a home in Morgan Hill where she would live the rest of her life, raising her children and grandchildren. She helped established Countryside 4-H Club, so that her children and community children could learn responsibility, a strong work ethic, and leadership skills. Sometime after, Mary started working as an office manager for a dental office where she enjoyed working for nearly twenty years. Ten years ago she retired, residing next to six of her grandchildren. She enjoyed watching them grow and being an important part of their lives, instilling in them, as well as all of her grandchildren whom she loved deeply, the wonderful qualities she herself possessed. She took great pride in making sure that all her children and grandchildren were very well rounded people, and let them know daily how much she loved them. Anyone who had the good fortune of knowing Mary, an honest and loving lady, will miss her sense of humor, her unselfish nature, and her wonderful smile.
Mary was preceded in death by her mother Bernice Piland and brother Leo Piland.
Mary was blessed by wonderful friends and family. She is survived by Fred Steed, her very dear lifetime companion, her daughter Debra, her husband Harry, their children: Misty Esau, her husband Andrew, their son Joe; Willie, his wife Jennifer; Casey and Dylan, all of Reedley; her son Will Steed and his son Daniel of San Jose; her youngest son Fred and his wife Lynne, their children: Shaylyn, Kayla, Mason, Amanda Rae, Shelby and Logan, all of Morgan Hill; daughter Linda, her husband Joe, their children: Lori Arthur of San Mateo, Frank Schweizer of Los Osos, and Tisha and her husband Justin, their children Sierra and Tosh of Cambria; daughter Deborah, her husband Randy, their son Tony of San Bruno; father Clyde Piland of Modesto, brother C.R. and his wife Sue of Elk Grove, sister Izetta, her husband Ed of Portland, OR. and sister Loretta of Modesto, sister-in-law Susan (Fred) Piland of Waldo, AR., and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Johnson Funeral Home, 17720 Monterey Street, Morgan Hill, CA 95037, on Saturday, September 8th at 1:00 pm; there will be a celebration of her life following the memorial service at 1790 Half Road, Morgan Hill.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to The American Lung Association or the American Heart Association
