Sarah Lynn Steele was born on December 23, 1984 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She died on November 14, 2017 in Seattle. She was a graduate of Lake Washington High School (2003) and Seattle Pacific University (2007), and an active member of the Lake Washington United Methodist Church in Kirkland.

She was born with a rare musculoskeletal disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), and over the course of her life suffered from other illnesses as well. Toxic shock syndrome and respiratory failure claimed her life. She was the beneficiary of extraordinary medical care throughout her life, and her family wishes to express both gratitude for her many caregivers and outrage at a national healthcare system that denies to so many the care that Sarah enjoyed.

Despite her sufferings and limitations, Sarah’s joy in life and optimistic outlook were undimmed. She was an active member of the International FOP Association and had friends all over the world. She had a lovely voice, a sweet smile and a radiant, outgoing personality. She loved to sing, and was a member of the LWHS Concert Choir, the SPU Women’s Choir, and the LWUMC Chancel Choir. She also loved movies, theater productions, detective novels, shopping, handcrafts, keychain collecting and chocolate.

And she herself was loved by all who knew her.

Sarah is survived by her parents, Richard Steele and Marilyn Hair; her siblings, Jonathan and Mollie; aunts Nancy Hair, Sally Hair (Brian Reid) and Carolyn (Rob) Thomas; and several cousins. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Lake Washington United Methodist Church, 7525 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98033, or to the International FOP Association, 1520 Clay St. Ste. H-2, North Kansas City, MO 64116 (see www.ifopa.org for donation instructions).