Betty Ann Castator

Our mom, Betty Ann Hayes Castator was a devoted Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was deeply loved by her daughter Robbie and sons Mark and Kelly. Betty was the most incredible mother any of us could have wished for and a remarkable grandmother to Canyon, Skylar, Justin, Dalton and Madeleine.

Betty was born and raised in Houston, Texas. From the moment she was born she hit the ground running and never really stopped. She was part of the remarkable generation that was born into the hardships of the Depression and WW11. She grew up loving movies and popular music. Her favorites were mysteries and musicals.

She loved a happy ending.

In the late 50's Betty's father "Red" introduced her to Robert Castator. They fell in love and were married on March 1, 1957. A year later began their family. Mark was born in September 1958 and Robbie and Kelly quickly followed. She selflessly devoted her time to raising the children and running the household. Life was a stationwagon-led parade of arts and crafts, music lessons, sports, swimming lessons, dance classes and scout meetings. Later in life they relocated the family to Jakarta Indonesia and also lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Bangkok, Thailand. Betty and Bob loved to travel and visited much of Asia and Europe. After Bob retired they moved back to Houston.

Through it all they were always very much in love.

Betty was a devoted and life-long Christian. Upon returning to Houston she and Bob became active members of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church. She would sit up front every Sunday without fail and served faithfully on the Altar Guild, Daughters of the King, Prayer Shawl and the thrift shop. The church and the many friends she made there were an important part of her life.

We will always remember Mom as beautiful and forever stylish: 5-foot-seven with long legs, dark hair, sparkling brown eyes and a big beautiful smile. She loved fashion, clothes and jewelry and was a keen seamstress, making many of the clothes in her closest. She had an immense joy for learning and was curious by nature-our house was always overflowing with books. With a love of history, global traveling, and reading she always had something to say and was never shy about saying it.

Mom sure liked to talk!

Christmas at Grandma's will be forever remembered by her grandchildren. "Deck the Halls" took on new meaning when the boxes of decorations descended from the attic to fill every possible wall, surface, nook, and cranny. Every year we feasted on an abundance of her specialties: pies, cookies, candies and her famous "Special Milk."

Betty loved life no matter what it brought. She faced it straight on and went through life fearlessly. She was tough and no-nonsense. She was not afraid of hard work. She was honest beyond a fault, fiercely loyal to friends and family, and always ready to help. She also loved her family. Our mom was a saint in our eyes and the eyes of many others.

She was so deeply and incredibly loved that we miss her already but she will live on in our hearts.

A visitation for Betty was held Thursday, August 5, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Waltrip Funeral Directors, 1415 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas. A funeral service occurred on Friday, August 6, 2021 at 11:00 AM at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 1656 Blalock, Houston, Texas. Burial followed at 2:00 PM in Memorial Oaks Cemetery, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choosing would be greatly appreciated.