Madelyn Heloise Gore Long-Castles

Heloise Long-Castles, age 93, of Smithville, Texas, peacefully passed away at home, on Friday, April 17th, 2026. Viewing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23rd at the first United Methodist Church of Smithville, located at 400 Olive Street. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon being provided in the Fellowship Hall immediately after the service. Graveside services and burial will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery, near the intersection of East 6th Street and North Main Street in Rusk, Texas, on Friday, April 24th, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Madelyn Heloise Gore Long-Castles was born in Buffalo, Texas on January 29th, 1933 to Joe Selma Gore and Jeffie Lazenby Gore. She was the second of eleven children and is preceded in death by her parents, seven siblings, and two husbands: John Garrett Long of Rusk, Texas and Harlan Castles of Arlington, Texas. She is survived by three siblings: Patsy Waites and Linda (and brother-in-law, Gary Don) Dominy of Jacksonville, Texas, and Larry (and sister-in-law, Jo Ann) Gore of La Grange, Texas; three children: Lori Long of Kerrville, Texas, Melodee Long (and son-in-law, Dixon McKay) of San Marcos, Texas, and John D. Long of Smithville, Texas; four step-children: Dale (and daughter-in-law, Ruby) Castles of Bentonville, Arkansas, Mike (and daughter-in-law, Debbie) Castles of Burleson, Texas, Paul (and daughter-in-law, Dana) Castles of Arlington, Texas, and Susan Castles of Jacksonville, Florida; three grand-children: Skylar Castellaw of San Antonio, Texas, Mac McKay of San Marcos, Texas, and Jhonathan Medina of Kerrville, Texas, as well as 27 nieces and nephews and a plethora of in-laws.

Heloise attended public schools in Buffalo and Jacksonville, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Sam Houston State Teacher’s College in Huntsville, Texas in and a Master of Education in Administration degree from Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches, Texas. She taught her first year, at age 19, in Port Lavaca, Texas. It was there she met high school band director, John Garrett Long. They married in 1953. She and John later settled in Carrizo Springs, Texas to raise their family. She retired from teaching after 39 years, in 1991. Following John’s death in 1999, Heloise moved to Smithville, Texas in 2002, due to its proximity to family in nearby towns. She was happily married to Harlan Castles from 2004 to 2016.

Heloise’s life was marked by devotion to church and community service. She was a member of numerous professional and civic organizations, including Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi, Delta Kappa Gamma, Business and Professional Women’s Club, Lions Club, and Smithville Garden Club. She was a highly revered and much beloved member of the First United Methodist Church in both Carrizo Springs and Smithville, Texas, where she and her banana pudding will not soon be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to cancer research at:

The Rosalind Frers Foundation