Margery "Marge" Evanicky Castellaw

Margery 'Marge' Evanicky Castellaw

October 25, 1942 – January 13, 2023

Margery Evanicky Castellaw (Marge as she preferred), was born on October 25, 1942 in La Grange, TX to Otto John and Ethlyn Marie (Rehak) Evanicky, who proceeded her in death. After a devastating stroke in late December 2022, she passed away peacefully on the evening of January 13, 2023 in La Grange, TX with family by her side. It’s an understatement to express how much she will be missed.

Marge graduated from Smithville High School in Smithville, Texas in 1961. Shortly after graduating high school, Marge moved to San Marcos, where she attended Southwest Texas State University for a couple of semesters. In 1963, while working as a waitress in a local restaurant, Marge met and married Willis T. Castellaw who passed away in 1972 and left her widowed at the age of 30, with a 4-year-old daughter. On many, many occasions, Marge wondered how she would make ends meet.

Marge went to work for Southwest Texas State University (now known as Texas State), in 1966 where she was employed for 42 years until her retirement in 2008. She adored the school, her colleagues, not to mention the numerous ‘college kids’ who worked for her part-time over the many years.

In 1973, she friended her next-door neighbor Eugene ‘Bimby’ Harrison, who became a long-time companion and father figure to her daughter until his death in 2001. Marge lived in San Marcos most of her adult life, but relocated to Temple, TX to be near her daughter after retirement. In April 2021, Marge built a new house and moved back to her hometown of Smithville, TX to be closer to her youngest sister and brother.

While Marge loved the university, her most prideful role was being a mother to her only child. She is survived by Pamela Castellaw Dickie along with her husband Ronnie of Holland, TX; four sisters Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Wilder and husband James of Austin, TX; Lillian Boehm and husband Ricky of Dallas; Aleene Howser and husband Richard of San Marcos; Barbara ‘Cookie’ Evanicky of Smithville; and one brother David ‘Bud’ Evanicky and wife Judy of Smithville; along with several nephews, nieces, great nieces/nephews and cousins. She is also survived by Willis’ daughter Barbara Davis, granddaughter Tamra Beasley both of Austin, TX and two great grandchildren.

Marge’s fondest memories were attending Pam’s school events and athletic competitions throughout the 1970s and 1980s, which allowed her to travel to many states. Marge loved to tell funny stories and talk about the past. She remembered details and dates from years past, as if the events happened yesterday. Because of her recollection, Marge became the unofficial historian for the family. When asking others to provide one word that described Marge, all said ‘dedicated,’ which defines every facet of her life – wife/companion, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, employee, volunteer and most importantly, Christian.

Marge loved children and became a ‘bonus’ grandmother after her retirement for ‘kiddos’ that she cared for during Mother’s Day Out and Sunday school at the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in both San Marcos and Temple, TX. Marge was a devout Christian, so you could always find her on Sunday mornings in a church pew. Outside of church, she was an avid walker (2+ miles a day) at the age of 80. Many people half her age could barely keep up! She volunteered as a Salvation Army bell ringer while in the Temple area and most recently at Born Again Emporium in Smithville, a local resale store who donates sales proceeds back to the local community.

A visitation will be held at Marrs-Jones Funeral Home on Sunday, January 22, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 pm. Services will be held on January 23, 2023 at 10:00 am at the First United Methodist Church in Smithville, with graveside service to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, also in Smithville.

Pall Bearers include:  Jim Wilder, Steven Wilder, Travis Howser, Travis Asklund, Paul Womack, and Erik Hauck.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 698, Smithville, TX 78957 in memory of Marge.