Milton Bernard Castille

We, the family of Milton Bernard Castille (80), are greatly saddened to share the news that Milton has passed on to be with the Lord on February 21, 2025. Milton was born on June 22, 1944, to Saul and Mabel Castille. He was a 1962 Sulphur High School graduate, and in 1961, he was the first student in Louisiana to be awarded the Southern Regional National Crop Farming Award from the Future Farmers of America. Milton was a rice and soybean farmer until 1982 and a cattle farmer until his death. In addition to his time as a farmer, Milton retired from Gulf State Utilities / Entergy with 25 years of service, drove a school bus for the Calcasieu Parish School Board, served with the Carlyss Lion’s Club, and was an active member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Carlyss where he was a charter member of St. Theresa’s Knights of Columbus Council 8058. After retirement, Milton was a heavy equipment operation instructor for ABC Pelican Craft Training. In this role, he was committed to his students, encouraging them to pursue their dreams, helping them in any way he could, and celebrating in their successes. One of the greatest and proudest achievements in Milton’s life was his work with the Carlyss Fire Department. Milton was one of the founders of the fire department, fought fires as a volunteer firefighter for 25 years, and served on the Board of Commissioners of Ward Four Fire Protection District No. Two for 40 years. Milton had dreamed of being a firefighter since he, only a teenager at the time, watched helplessly as his uncle’s house burned to the ground. He knew then that he wanted to help protect his community; he was a hard worker and served his community and his family in all of these ways with great pride. Milton was a storyteller extraordinaire, never letting even the smallest detail be left out of the tales he told of the old days. You could find his television tuned into old western movies, and if he wasn’t watching Grit, he was enjoying a football or softball game. Milton cherished his family, friends, and community deeply, and he would be honored by the outpouring of love we have received in the wake of his final illness. Milton lived in Carlyss his entire life. He worked its fields, he protected its people, and, with his wife, he raised his sons under its sky – all seeds planted, yielding a legacy. 

 

He passed away peacefully in his Carlyss home, surrounded by family. In death, he is reunited with his wife of 59 years, Linda Sue LeDoux Castille, who passed away just two months prior on December 16, 2024. In a newspaper article from July 2002, Milton described Linda as “the fire of his lifetime.”

 

Milton is survived by their four sons – Shannon (Crystal); Camus (Lauri); Russell (Katy); and Ty (Christine) – their thirteen grandchildren – Bailey, Andrew, Alexandra, Mia Wallace, Logan, Zachary, Emily, Collin, Christian, Anna Claire, Sam, Sarah, and Tyler – and their one great grandchild, Presley Wallace. Additionally, he is survived by his sisters, Barbara Castille Meaux (Curtis) and Margaret Castille as well as his extensive network of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He will also be missed by his loyal dog and cat, Scooter and Miss Kitty.

 

In addition to his wife, Linda, Milton is preceded in death by his parents, Saul and Mabel Castille; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Curtis and Etta LeDoux; his brother-in-law, Arvil LeDoux; and his brother and his sister-in-law, Willard and Jackie Castille.

 

He will be honored with a Firefighter’s Funeral and a Mass of Christian Burial. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 27 from 4 pm to 8 pm and Friday, February 28 from 8 am to 10:30 am at Johnson & Robison Funeral Home in Sulphur, with a Cursillo Rosary taking place at 6 pm on Thursday, February 27 at the funeral home. His funeral service will be on Friday, February 28 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Carlyss at 11 am, followed by a graveside service at Mimosa Pines Cemetery. We also invite you to a gathering of family and friends at St. Theresa’s KC Hall at the conclusion of the graveside service.

 

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made in Milton’s honor to the Carlyss Firefighter’s Association (5151 Volunteer Road, Sulphur, LA 70665).

 

We would also like to extend our gratitude to the nurses and staff of West Calcasieu-Cameron Hospital, the nurses and staff of Resthaven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Melinda Keller and Brighton Bridge Hospice, the Carlyss Fire Department, and his caregiver, Donna, for the care, comfort, and compassion they have shown not only Milton but also our family.