Esther Mae Castor

Esther Mae Castor

May 15, 1924—December 7, 2019

Esther Mae (Stark) Castor, 95, of Pangburn, AR passed from her earthly life on December 7, 2019 at her home in the Hickory Flat community surrounded by part of her loving family.  She was born May 15, 1924 in the Miller community of Cleburne County to the late Jesse Richard Stark and Ida (DeFoor) Stark.

Esther was raised in a loving Christian home and attended various churches nearby.  She was saved and baptized while attending one of these area churches during her teenage years.  She lived her entire life quietly serving her Lord.

As a child growing up during the depression years, Esther learned early in life the meaning of hard work.  Her father passed away when she was in her early teens and she stepped up to help her mother work on the family farm along with her older and two younger sisters.  In order to attend high school, she moved into a boarding house in Heber Springs so she could complete her education.  Upon her graduation in 1944, she moved to Memphis, TN along with her sister, Kathryn, and went to work.  It was here where she met the love of her life, Leonard Castor.  After their marriage in 1946, they bought the “rocky hilltop farm” at Hickory Flat and settled down to raise a family.  There were many hardships along the way, but Esther leaned on her faith in the Lord and quietly faced each challenge.

Esther was predeceased by her husband, Leonard Antle Castor on February 23, 1979; her infant son, Shane Ray Castor in 1956; second born son, Jim Hawley Castor in 1998; one grandson, Thomas Gerald Castor, Jr. in 1980; one daughter-in-law, Sheryl Lynn (Johnson) Castor in 2001, and one son-in-law, Thomas Daniel Van Horn in 2015.  She was also predeceased by one brother, Hobert Stark and four sisters, Dovie Gaither, Kathryn Castor, Ellie Davis and Nellie Mothern.

She leaves a large family to mourn her passing.  Her surviving children are: Davey (Sybil) Castor of Greenbrier, AR; Joe Edward Castor of Pangburn, AR; Lee Roy (Feliza) Castor of Cave City, AR;

Thomas (Robin) Castor of Ericson, NE; Sharon Van Horn of Floral, AR; Harvey (Ann) Castor of Pangburn, AR; Kenneth (Debbie) Castor of Ellsworth, KS; Martha Sue (Eugene) Reed of Searcy, AR and Annette (Lyndon) Pillow of Judsonia, AR. 

She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren:  Rhonda (Jim) France, Paul (Cassie) Gill, JR (Leah) Castor, Cody (Rebecca) Castor, Jon (Elizabeth) Castor, Brenton (Alisha) Castor, Jody Castor, Kaitlyn (Michael) Hirschler, Jo (Sam) Keck, Terrell (Clarissa) Castor, Shelby (Sawyer) Pence, Mindy (Danny) Yancey, Seth (Ashley) Van Horn, Darren Castor, Jessica DeLauder, Randoulph (Brenna) Castor, Alexander (PJ) Reed, Anthony (Cortney) Reed, Matthew Reed, Andrew (Elizabeth) Pillow, Dale Pillow, Megan Pillow (fiancé Tyler Alderson) and Craig Pillow. 

She leaves behind her great-grandchildren:  Hannah Dixon, Jacob Dixon, Christy Castor, Tre Castor, Vance Castor, Kelton Castor, Treyton Castor, Sierra Castor, Faith Castor, Aynit Castor, Kylee Castor, Blake Castor, Teagan Hirschler, Leonard Hirschler, Sally-Jo Hirschler, Marshall Keck, Elizabeth Keck, Silas Keck, Realynn Castor, Dacus Yancey, Sydney Yancey, Deliah Castor, Sophia DeLauder, Oliva Reed, Andrea Reed, Evelyn Reed, Lacey Reed, Chase Reed, Kason Reed, and Penelope Pillow.

She is also survived by numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and a whole host of friends. 

Obituary lovingly written by Annette Pillow.