Celia Engelhardt

Celia May Steele Engelhardt, 85 of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was the daughter of Helen Frazier and Russel Steele. Growing up on the dairy farm, she helped her brother Ed Steele with family chores and 4-H projects. She loved her church and attending church camp as a youth. While attending Butler High School, her activities included pep club, Bates County Dairy Queen, Best Girl Citizen and FHA activities, graduating in class of 1954. She graduated from Central Missouri State College at Warrensburg, MO where she was an active Home Economics major with leadership in Colhecon, KKI and Pi Kappa Sigma Groups. Her teaching career started at Festus, Mo, High School where she taught for three years. On April 24, 1960, she married Bill Engelhardt. After Bill’s active Army career ended they moved to Prairie Village, Kansas and Celia worked at the Gas Service Company. Their daughter Denna was born in Kansas City before Bill was transferred to Houston, Texas, where son Evan was born. Celia enjoyed being a stay at home mom which included many years of day care for a friend’s child, Nancy Watson. After moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she began substitute teaching and completed a Reading Specialist degree at Louisiana State University. In 1980 Bill started a valve business in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Celia taught at Broken Arrow High School for fourteen years. After retiring from teaching, Celia enjoyed United Methodist Women activities, quilting, growing flowers and doing a consulting service. She liked to cook and bake, which Bill enjoyed too. For five years, she and Bill contributed to the Broken Arrow Farmers Market. Celia has enjoyed wonderful friendships and kept in contact with many throughout the years. Her family has always been very important and they spent time together whenever possible. Daughter Denna Johnson lives in Utah, Grandson Derek lives in Dallas, Texas, and son Evan and wife Cheri and daughters, Taylor and Kylie, are in Prairieville, Louisiana. Other loved ones include Ed Steele, brother, wife Sue Ann, Becky Bauersfeld niece, Brenda Chael, niece and husband Ted Chael, Gwen Hill, niece and husband Tom, Steve Engelhardt, nephew and wife Elaine, Charles Engelhardt, nephew and wife Lawanda, Barbara Wainwright, niece and husband David, Debbie O’hearn, niece and husband Brian, Mark Ferguson, nephew, Ronnie Ferguson, nephew (deceased) and wife Debbie. Celia spent many years battling a severe respiratory condition that was diagnosed by the National Jewish Health Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: National Jewish Health 1400 Jackson St. Denver, CO 80206 Attn: Memorial Department Please indicate gift is in memory of Celia Engelhardt On-line www.njhealth.org/donate Phone call (303) 728-6560 or (303) 728-6551

Tributes

Celia Engelhardt

September 24, 1936 - October 18, 2021