Mary 'Evy' Steele

MARY EVELYN "EVY" STEELE

Cedar Rapids

Mary Evelyn Steele, 98, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, at Mercy Hallmar surrounded by her loving family. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Private family burial will be at Oak Shade Cemetery following the funeral service.

Evy was born on Jan. 21, 1917, to Harvey and Minnie (Palmer) Stiles in Emmetsburg, Iowa. When she was 3, she moved with her family to a farm by Oxford Junction, Iowa. While living there, she attended country school and was picked up every day by her teacher, who drove a horse and buggy. Her mother passed away in 1927. Following her mother's death, she lived different places with relatives. She ended up with her father and sister in Mechanicsville, where she graduated from high school in 1935. On Aug. 17, 1935, she married Donald Albaugh. They had three children. After the marriage ended in divorce, she moved to Cedar Rapids, where she could work and care for her family. She worked in different restaurants in the downtown area and the Elks Club as a waitress. In 1953, she married Bob Steele, which also ended in divorce. In 1954, she went to work at the Sheraton Montrose Hotel as manager of the Officers Club and later the Linn County Athletics Club.

In 1964, she bought a lounge and dance place on First Avenue in downtown Cedar Rapids. In 1970, urban renewal moved her business to Third Avenue, known as Evy's Upstairs Lounge. In 1977, she sold her business, thinking she would retire. Not liking retirement, she went to work at the Sheraton Hotel that later became the Clarion on 33rd Avenue. For five years, she managed the dining room and then worked as a hostess part-time for the next 25 years. She always said it was her social life as she had so many friends there.

She was a member of the Elks and Eagles clubs and was a member of the American Business Women's Association, where she helped with fundraising. She was an active member of Marion Christian Church.

She is survived by her two loving children, Junie Allee and Don (Connie) Albaugh of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren, Jeff (Mindy) Albaugh of Williamsburg, Julia (Tim) Harrison of Long Lake, Minn., Elizabeth (Alan) Johnson of Sioux City, Lori (Jim) Hannan of Marion, Mary (Mike) Meyers of Alaska, Veronda (Jim) Beavers of Longmont, Colo., Melinda Vangenderen of Des Moines, Douglas Allee of Oak Park, Ill., and Steven Allee of Lizella, Ga.; 13 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Mary Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Beverly Albaugh; and her sister, Florence McFadden.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.

cedarmemorial.com.