Dates
Pansie Marie Castello Jay, 88, died peacefully on June 19, 2024, in Fort Worth, TX surrounded by her family. Pansie was born on September 30,1935, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Thomas Jackson & Mildred Leon Forehand Castello. She was the second of four children and the only daughter born to Mildred & Jack. The family eventually located to San Angelo, TX where Pansie graduated from Lake View High School. While at Lakeview, Pansie was a twirler, member of the track team, and a starting forward for the 1952 Lakeview State Championship basketball team. It was at Lakeview H.S. where she met the love of her life, Robert Lewis Jay. The couple wed on December 24, 1954, and shared 62 years of wedded bliss. After living a few years in Robert Lee, TX the couple moved to Eldorado, TX, which became their lifelong home and where they raised their four children. They were soul mates who lived as an example of how to enjoy the small things in life while also enjoying each other, and the laughter and joy family brings.
Pansie spent many years of her life working as a teacher’s aide for Schleicher County ISD or the First National Bank of Eldorado. She also served on the board of the Way off Broadway Players theatre troupe in Eldorado. But, if you asked her kids or grandkids, where she really shined was as a mother and grandmother. Many hours were spent building puzzles, playing a spirited, competitive card game, or sharing a home-cooked meal with “Gam”. She kept a special list on the side of her refrigerator detailing how each grandchild liked their hamburger. She ran an organized and loving home that she decorated EVERY month in a different theme making each visit a magical memory. She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.
A life-long member of the Church of Christ, she loved singing Christian songs, especially harmony, filling her home, life, and heart with the love of Christ through song.
Pansie was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Robert, and brothers Jack Castello, Jr., and Kenneth Castello.
She is survived by one brother, Jim Castello, and his wife Colleen of San Angelo, TX, and by two special sisters-in-law, Joan Castello of San Angelo, TX, and Linda Castello of Benton, AR.
Pansie is survived by her four children; Benjie Jay and wife Donna of Joshua, TX; daughters, Gynna Harlin and husband Billy Bob of Burleson, TX, Sammye Duncan and husband Drue of Whitney, TX, and Jolynn Jay Bell of Roanoke, TX.
She is also survived by many grandchildren, all of whom adore her: Cody Jay (Valentina), John (Melissa) Jay, Amber Jay, Clayton Harlin (Amelinda), Clifton Harlin (Shelby), Clinton Harlin, Levi Duncan (Hayley), Jaclynn Duncan Sparks (John), Cullen Duncan (Kalyn), Jennifer Clintsman Dow (Sam), Courtney Clintsman Raines (Nathan); and those “littles” who kept her laughing in the fourth quarter of life, great grandchildren, Jacey, Kaci, and Brock Jay, Luke Jay, Lane and Ava Harlin, Wyatt Harlin, Delaney and Dylan Duncan, Cayden, Canyon, Carsyn, and Camdin Duncan, Jackson, Emma, and Nolan Sparks, Margot and Micah Raines, and Joshua Dow.
Services: Visitation: Friday, June 21, 2024, 4-7pm (family present) and on Saturday, June 22 from 10am-noon at Love’s Funeral Home in Eldorado, TX.
Celebration of Life: 2pm, Saturday June 22, 2024, at the Mertzon Hwy Church of Christ in Eldorado, TX, with a private family burial the following day.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest a memorial to the charity of your choice.