SCARBOROUGH — Jessie “Jed” Frease Steele died April 14 surrounded by family at Piper Shores.

She was born in Canton, Ohio on Sept. 11, 1917, daughter of Pauline Rider Frease and William A. Frease.

She graduated from the Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland and Briarcliff College in Tarrytown, N.Y.

An exceptional horsewoman, tennis player and gardener, she spent a lifetime enjoying the outdoors. Her appreciation of nature and sense of stewardship for all living things, especially dogs and horses, were instilled in her children.

She contributed to her community through her many years of volunteer service, benefiting The Aultman Hospital Women’s Board, The Junior League of Canton, and The Visiting Nurse Society.

A longtime resident of Ohio, she and her family spent summers at her lakeside cabin on Stanley Pond in Maine for many years before she moved to Piper Shores in Scarborough in November, 2001.

She was predeceased by her husband, W.W. “Bill” Steele Jr., in March, 2001 and her brothers, George B. Frease and William A. Frease.

She is survived by her children, Charles H. Bennell Jr., and his wife Diane of Canton, Polly Bennell of South Portland, Pamela Bennell Murton and her husband John of Portland, David Bennell and his wife Dede of Freeport; grandsons Benjamin Harvey and his wife Heather of Asheville, N.C., Galen Murton and Christopher Murton, both of Portland, and Ryder Bennell and Jesse Bennell, both of Freeport; her brother, Belden A. Frease and his wife, Dolina, of Palm Beach, Fla.; her step-children and step-grandchildren in the Steele and Correll families.

A private memorial service will be held on May 1 at the Black Point Inn in Scarborough.

Memorial contributions can be made to her favorite charities: The Pine Tree Society in Bath, Maine; Pegasus Farm in Hartville, Ohio; or the Margaret Shipley Child Health Center in Canton, Ohio.

Arrangements are by Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland.

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