Maria Luisa Benteen Steves died Sunday, October 27, 2002 at Methodist Hospital. She was 95, having been born in Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio), Texas, January 8, 1907. She was preceded in death by two sisters of Atlanta, Georgia, Anita Casanova Benteen (Mrs. Stephens) Mitchell and Katherine L. Benteen. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Myron Fuller Steves, and their children: Frederick Benteen Steves and wife, Courtney Pollard Steves, Teresa Steves Skinner and husband, Richard H. Skinner, and Myron F. Steves Jr. and wife, Rowena Young Steves. Grandchildren are Ensign Frederick Benteen Steves Jr. and wife, Andrea Thrasher Steves (with a baby due February 2003) of Severn, Maryland, Roy Pollard Steves of New York, Donna Anne Davis of Phenix City, Alabama, Lori Ellyn Davis Gerrard and husband, Kenneth James Gerrard, Michael Rubin Steves and Joshua Lee Steves. Also surviving in Madison, Florida are sister-in-law, Virginia Mattis (Mrs. Wilbert Luther) Steves, nephew William Mattis Steves and wife, Caroline, niece Joanne Steves Williams and husband, J.L. Williams and grand nephew Michael William Steves. Although she was born in Texas, her father's army career took her to a variety of army posts. Maria's early education was in various Sacred Heart convent schools in cities such as Monterey, California, St. Louis, Missouri, Cincinnati, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Asheville, North Carolina. When her father, Lt. Colonel Frederick Wilson Benteen, retired she moved to the farm his father, Brevet Brigadier General Frederick William Benteen, a southern unionist, had purchased in Atlanta, Georgia in 1865 after the Civil War. She attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia and the nursing schools of Charity and Mercy hospitals in New Orleans. An avid equestrian, she met her husband at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans in 1939, at that time a horse cavalry national guard facility. Her mother was Maria Luisa Casanova y del Canal de Benteen, whose grandfather fought with the Spanish troops under Galvez allied with the American colonists during the Revolutionary War in the battles for the capture of Mobile and Pensacola. Maria Luisa had lived in Houston since 1951. Maria was an active and devout member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and its Catholic Daughters of America Queen of Heaven Court #1844. She enjoyed and was particularly effective in working with Hispanic patients and their families in the Medical Center. She had many charitable interests, particularly in the support of various Indian schools in Montana and North Dakota, the preservation of the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana where her grandfather fought in 1876, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and St. Basil's Chapel at the University of St. Thomas. On the lighter side, Maria enjoyed tremendously her daily walk of two miles or so along the hike and bike trail beside Braes Bayou in front of her home and even longer walks on the beach in Galveston adjacent to her beachfront condo. She also was an accomplished ballroom dancer. With her husband she traveled widely to participate in amateur events and observe professional competitions. She bought a "Christmas Special" from a dance studio in 1957 for $35 and was hooked for life. From this interest the support of another charity evolved - the University of St. Thomas annual Mardi Gras ball in support of Father Francis Monaghan's scholarship fund. She loved to dance, especially the subtle movements of the rumba or the elegant and smooth slow waltz.
A rosary will be recited in St. Basil's Chapel, University of St. Thomas, at 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, October 29th after a visitation period with family members from 6:00 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. A Funeral Mass will also be celebrated in St. Basil's Chapel at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 30th, with private interment following at Forest Park Westheimer. Officiating will be Father William J. Young and Father Jack Hanna. In lieu of flowers, those friends who desire may send contributions to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025, the University of St. Thomas, 3800 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006 or to the charity of their choice.