08/21/2026
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Mary Ella Castillo-West, on August 19th in Denver, Colorado. Our mother lived a full and vibrant life beginning on September 22nd, 1928 in Jackson, Mississippi. She was born to the late Nelson and Rosie Castillo, in which she was their second daughter. She received her formal education at Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi and received her Bachelor’s degree at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi.
In August 1959, she married Robert Lee West, Jr. in St. Louis, Missouri. In September 1962, Mary and Robert along with their children, relocated to Denver, Colorado. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master’s degree in Social Work from Denver University in 1978. During her remaining years, Mary was known to be a loving and devoted matriarch. She was well known in the Park Hill neighborhood in which she was very sociable. She would generate conversations and make new friends constantly. Mary enjoyed shopping at antique stores and reading the newspaper daily.
Mary’s grandchildren especially adored her storytelling in which she would describe events with such immaculate detail that you felt present within the story itself. Additionally, her grandchildren loved her cooking. Her recipes included sauteed salmon, homemade cornbread dressing and sweet potato pie. Another favorite was Mary’s homemade ice cream that made a perfect treat on a hot summer day....
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