Derril Lee Castor, 88, of Russell, Kansas, passed away peacefully Monday, October 24, 2022, at Russell Regional Hospital with his family by his side.
Derril was born August 8, 1934, in Torrington, Wyoming, the son of Glen and Ethel (Durham) Castor. He lived his early years in Arapahoe, Colorado with his parents and older brother, Delbert. During his elementary school years, the family had moved to Kansas in the Russell and Osborne areas. Derril moved schools often, but found his grounding in Osborne, Kansas through the connection of his coach, James Lewis “Lew” Comer. Lew helped find Osborne families with whom Derril could live with during high school. Derril was a hard worker and held several part-time jobs to support himself when he wasn’t atschool or practice for football, basketball, track, or baseball. He was class president his freshman and senior years and graduated from Osborne High School in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and served from 1957 to 1962.
While in Osborne, Derril met his life partner, Marvel J. Mitchell, when he was in 7th grade. Their friendship continued throughout high school. He and Marvel were married on November 21, 1959, at the First Christian Church in Osborne, Kansas. This union was blessed with two children; L’Mitchell and Lezlee. They have made Russell their home since 1963.
Derril attended Ft. Hays State University where he obtained a B.S. in Art Education in 1964 and an M.S. in Art in 1966. Derril began teaching at Natoma High School and then Ruppenthal Middle School in Russell. For the majority of his 33 year teaching career, Derril taught Arts and Crafts at Russell High School. When he wasn’t teaching, Derril farmed and ranched in Osborne County. He was a founding member of the Russell’s Original Art Review (ROAR) in Russell. He was a member of the St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church of Russell and later attended the St. John Lutheran Church. He loved making jewelry, pottery, ice cream, and beef jerky. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and gardening. He especially loved watching and attending his grandsons’ activities, and traveling with Marvel and friends. His little jokes and sweet nature will be truly missed. Derril will always be remembered as a true gentle-man.
Derril’s surviving family include his wife of 62 years Marvel of the home; son, L’Mitchell Castor of Prairie Village, Kansas; daughter, Lezlee Ivy (Eric) of Parkville, Missouri; and four grandsons, Connor Castor, Nick Castor, Brock Ivy and Tate Ivy; brother, Larry Castor (Gayle) of Littleton, Colorado, their children Blaine and Rolna; niece Terri Crandall and nephews Jeff and Jay Castor. He also left several cousins and a host of friends.
Derril was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Delbert Castor.
Celebration of Derril’s life will be held at St. John Lutheran Church on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. Private burial of ashes will take place at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Russell Original Art Review (ROAR) or the Derril Castor Memorial Fund and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service.