Rose Inez Castillo

Rose Inez Castillo, 69, passed away peacefully in her Junction City home on August 16th with her loving and devoted husband by her side. Predeceased by her parents and sister Melody. Survived by her husband, Jose, daughter Tina (husband William, children Victoria, Rebecca, Brenden, and Javin); son Luis (wife Robin, children Christian, Ethan, and Anthony); siblings Jim, Joe, Donna, Florence, Carol, and Gretchen; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.
Rose was born May 8th, 1949 in Spokane, Washington and was the first of 7 children born to Russell and Elsie Rose Masters. She grew up in Lewiston, Idaho where she graduated from High School in 1967. She later attended Ricks College where she explored her vast interests in art, music, literature, and creative writing.
In the spring of 1967, she met Jose Castillo, a young Idaho national guardsmen, and the two were wed in Rexburg, Idaho on December 2nd, 1967. After Jose transitioned to the regular army in 1968 the young couple enjoyed many duty stations in Europe and the United States and welcomed their two young children along the way. While stationed in Darmstadt Germany, Rose, a voracious reader, found what she considered her dream job working as an editor of the Stars and Stripes Newspaper. A job that paid her to do what she absolutely loved – read stories about the world.
After moving to Kansas in 1986, Rose worked for a railway company in Junction City. Despite her lack of knowledge of the railway industry, she worked her way from receptionist to secretary, to purchasing agent and after two decades of services was highly regarded as one of the best in the industry.
By her family and friends, Rose will be remembered for her gifts of service. The donation of her time and energy to St. Xavier Schools and the United Way were points of pride and gave her great joy. Her kitchen was always open, bring an appetite. Her book collection was always better than yours. She was a bad driver but never wrecked a car. She taught her kids to drive (irony: see bad driver). She was dismissed from every jury summons she received. Her wit was quick and sharp, and her jokes were blue. She held grudges. She forgave completely. She would humble you at Scrabble, and rummy, and trivial pursuit.
Above all else, Rose will be remembered for the artist that she was. She could sing any song better than the original singer. Her ink drawings and water and oil paintings were often received as gifts by friends and family. Her writing was prolific, filling many, many unedited volumes:

The Rose – by Rose Castillo
In the beginning, all of the roses on earth were white. They told each other, "What are we to do?". If only we had the red of dahlias, or the yellow of the Marigold, or the blue of the forget-me-nots'. A tiny fairy was flying by, she flew to meet the sun. Could you grant the roses some of your burning red? The sun smiled and agreed he would. Then she went to meet the moon, "Can you spare some of your canary yellow for the roses"? The moon smiled and agreed to help the roses.

The next morning the roses greeted the fairy with smiles. They asked the fairy, "You fly everywhere, Who has given us this gift of color?" The fairy replied, "It was the gift of the sun gods, and the moon goddess, the goddess that brings you gentle rain, the sweetness of mother earth. It's the wind, the sunshine, the morning dew, and your friends everywhere."

The roses worried that they would never be able to repay all those who had gifted them. The fairy told them, "Use your beauty and fragrance to make the world a better place."©

A Celebration of Life Gathering was held at the Penwell-Gabel Junction City Funeral Chapel, on August 21st with family and close friends. The family wishes to thank the many doctors, nurses, and hospice workers for their great care. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Rose Castillo memorial art foundation or the charity of your choice.
She leaves us rich in memories.