My family history: Fred Monroe Steele. Jr. (Daddy) came to Jackson, MS by way of Pelahatchie Mississippi, he met my mother, Julia Lynn Howell (Mother) in Cleveland, MS. My dad’s father came from Woodbine, Iowa. My mother’s father was James William Denson who came from Scott, Mississippi.

Of four siblings in the family there was one older brother, Fred Monroe Steele, III, who had three sons, Fred IV, Ryan and Sean, sadly Ryan passed in 2010 from a tree fall.  My older sister, Julia had two children, Kenneth, Kenny and Christine, Chrissy, Jill as we called her, passed in 2020 in Northport, AL and is missed greatly. Missed also is my younger sister, JoAlice Denson, who had three sons, Grant, Marshall and Scott. Jo also passed away in 2020 in Appleton, WI. This has been a tough Christmas holiday in 2021. Jill, as we called Julia, loved Christmas and was always sending me Christmas things such as memorabilia and little presents. I miss the both of them so much.

Jack still lives in Florida with his wife, Lois. Larry Tucker, Jill’s significant other, still lives in Northport, AL while Gary Allen still lives in Appleton, WI.

I am John Francis. I used to tease my mother that I was named after a toilet and a talking mule (see Francis, the Talking Mule) which would get her so wound up. She would loudly exclaim that I was named after my grandfather and grandmother. Lynne Anne Busby is my wife since 2010 when she blessed me by saying “yes” when I asked her to marry me. Together we have no children other than Henry and Pickles. Lady passed a couple of years ago, as did Squeaks and Fidget. I have three daughters by three other marriages. Grechen Leigh was born in Jackson, MS, Cassie DeAnne was born in Flagstaff, AZ and Katherine Sarah Lynn was born in Bothell, WA.

Johnny ME!