Arlys Wayne Casteel

Arlys Wayne Casteel, known as Soapy to co-workers, and as Wayne to other friends and to his family, was born September 28, 1928, the next to youngest of eight children born to Maurice Wyatt and Vera Lucile (Finch) Casteel. He was born on his "Aunt Monica" Williams' homestead in Hill County, MT, 19 miles from the Canadian border, and died December 5, 2018 at the Shelton Health and Rehab Center in Shelton, WA with his loving wife at his side.

In August of 1929, the Casteel family left Montana and headed for Washington state, which became home to Wayne for the rest of his 90 years of life.

He married Darlene Marie Hagar on March 12, 1948 in the Little White Church in Navy Yard City and they celebrated their 70th anniversary at a party in April of this year hosted by their son and daughter-in-law. They resided in the Bremerton area until moving to Mason County in 1992.

He attended, but did not graduate from, Bremerton High School. His lack of a high school diploma was not a detriment to his ability to engage in a worthwhile career with the Federal Government. His final job assignment was as a Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanic in the Public Works shop where he retired on April 27, 1984 with over 35 years of total service at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Although he was not active in either one, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 192 and a life member of the Bremerton Elks Lodge #1181.

In the early years before and during their life together, Wayne and Darlene spent many hours of fun time at the roller skating rinks in and around Bremerton. The "gang" at the roller rink gave them six months to stay together when they learned of the couple's pending marriage. How wrong could they be?! They were the parents of three children, one boy and two girls. One of his greatest joys was traveling in their motorhome, which activity included camping with friends, and/or spending the winter months in the sunshine of Yuma, AZ. They made several trips to the east coast and the mid-west parking in courthouse, church, library, school parking lots while they searched the (sometimes) dusty files in courthouse archives looking for information about their ancestors. Eventually, they traded the "vacationer" label for that of "snow bird", and until 2 years ago, they spent their winters in Yuma. In his "spare" time, he put together jigsaw puzzles - many, many jigsaw puzzles.

Wayne often thought of and talked about his siblings who had gone before, including baby John Irwin who was born and died before Wayne was even born. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Vera, and those seven siblings, listed here for the benefit of budding genealogists who might some day find the information helpful: four brothers: Byrl LaVonne, John Irwin, Maurice Wyatt, Jr., and Marvin Stanley; three sisters: Leah Lucille Winkel, Dolly Lorraine Puderbaugh and Frances Elaine Clark. Also preceding him in death were two beloved daughters, Evelyn Marie Novick and Vivianne Sue Briley, as well as one grandson, Timothy Novick. Survivors include his spouse, one son, Robert (Linda) of Lynnwood, WA; three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one granddaughter-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.

A family graveside service will be held beginning at 1:30 p.m. on January 2, 2019 at Miller-Woodlawn Memorial Park, 5505 Kitsap Way in Bremerton. Friends and family are invited to the memorial service at 2:00 p.m. in the Lewis Funeral Chapel, 5303 Kitsap Way in Bremerton. Please join us for light refreshments and a time to reminisce after the memorial in the reception area at Lewis Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PO Box 34829, Seattle WA 98124-1829.