Colleen (Mathews) Casteel

Coleen Avis Mathews Casteel, 78 of Ontario, Oregon passed away at home surrounded by her family.  Starting life in Appleton City, Missouri, the second of five children born to John and Mary Mathews, she spent her early years in Marsing, Idaho and Ontario, Oregon.  During her teen years and after graduation from Ontario, High School in 1957, Colleen enjoyed waitressing at the Ontario Bus Depot and working at the front desk at the Argus Observer newspaper Office.  She met her future husband, Danial Casteel, while working at the bus depot.  They married in Payette in June of 1959.  They were blessed with two daughters,  Julie Ana in the spring of 1960 and Patricia Jane in the spring of 1964.  During their brief time together, Colleen and Danny started the Ontario Cab Co. which they owned and operated until Danny’s passing in 1968.  After closing the family business, Colleen provided for her family, sometimes working two or three jobs at a time.  She began her long career as a full charge bookkeeper with Les Schwab Tires.  Soon after, she obtained her tax preparers license and worked seasonally for H & R Block.  For a few years she worked as a bookkeeper for Flynn’s Sand and Gravel.  Once again, Colleen’s career path took her back into the tire business where she spent many years with Roy and Owens Tire Service until she retired in 2005.  Colleen’s relationships with God, family, and friends were her priorities.  Her concern for the environment, education, and social justice led her to support many organizations, including the Oregon Food Bank, Crisis Pregnancy Center and Project DOVE.  She was a member of the Church of Christ.  She had a keen moral compass, living with integrity and setting the bar high for her children.  Artistic and athletic, stylish and self-disciplined, she also had a sharp wit, and great sense of humor.  She was an accomplished seamstress, cook, quilter, gardener, singer, bowler, and teacher.  She also had a deep love for animals.  Colleen was preceded in death by her husband Elvie Leonard “Danial” Casteel, both her parents, John A. and Mary L. Mathews, her youngest brother Sgt. Frank J. Mathews, and brother-in-law David Romines.  She is survived by her brother John E. (Irene) Mathews, sisters Patricia Romines and Toni (Tom) O’Donnell, daughters Julie (Jack) Davis and Patricia (Joe) Maldonado and numerous nieces and nephews.  The family wishes to thank Canyon Home Care and Hospice for their support.  A memorial service will be held in her honor at the Haren-Wood Funeral Chapel in Ontario, Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 2 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donation be made to the Oregon Food Bank, Project DOVE or a charity of one’s choosing.

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