Helen Castleman Hayes

Helen Post Castleman Hayes was born on December 10th, 1940 in Ft. Worth, TX to John Timothy Post, II & Beulah Marshall (Powell) Post. 

As a young child she lived a life of privilege in Tyler, TX during the war. Her grandfather Kirby Post was a VP of the Cotton Belt Railroad. Her grandfather Jermin Powell was in high fashion sales. He would eventually discover the Greenberg Smoked Turkey Company and Greenburg turkeys are enjoyed in our family to this day. She has fond memories of being surrounded by loving extended family on both sides. Helen, her mother, her two brothers, her aunt and her beloved cousin Arnold all lived with her maternal grandparents Jessie and Jermin Powell.

In 1949 she moved with her parents and brothers to Houston and lived with her grandmother Jessie Powell. In 1955 the family moved to Longview, Texas where she started 9th grade. She graduated from Longview High School in May 1959. She enjoyed cheerleading, volunteer organizations and was loved and admired by her classmates who voted her to the homecoming court and awarded her the Most Beautiful superlative. 

She was fiercely independent so after graduation she set out for St. Louis, MO. There she attended Miss Hickey’s School of Business for Girls. She quickly realized being a secretary was not for her and set her eyes on the skies. In September 1960 she applied to Braniff International Airways. On November 10, 1960 she graduated as a Hostess (flight attendant) for Braniff. She had an absolute blast flying with her best friend and roommate Martha Jane Terrell. The two of them were much loved and often requested by their First-Class passengers. They went out of their way to serve with the upmost class while continuing to entertain and flirt with passengers. They racked up many “Sunshine Letters” for the airline. 

On Dec 10th, 1960 Helen had a layover at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Despite being exhausted she went to a party that night where she met 1960 West Point graduate Army Lieutenant Robert Jones Castleman, Jr. It was her 20th birthday. They married 11 months later. In 1961 Braniff did not allow married women to be Hostesses so Helen resigned from flying but that would not be the end of her travels! Her adventures were just getting started! 

Helen was well suited for the life of an Army wife. She thoroughly embraced her roles as a wife and loving mother. She magically created beautiful and inviting homes despite the drab canvas of military housing. She was a creative self-taught cook who provided homemade 5-course meals for her family daily. She said she always wanted to be prepared if one of her husband’s superior officers might unexpectedly come for dinner. On the occasions they entertained superior officers she made sure the freezing or sweltering military driver outside was as well fed as the officer he’d driven to her home. If she couldn’t find the time to sneak a meal out herself, she enlisted one of her kids to deliver it. Every meal included a thermos of an appropriate beverage and a full dessert. I imagine it also included a cloth napkin as well! She was greatly admired in the military circles for her warm and inclusive hospitality. She even received a personal letter of gratitude and accolades from an Army General. Whether she was hosting a large dinner party or an intimate luncheon it was beautifully & thoughtfully executed. She was both a leader and a confidante among the military wives who were often away from family for the first time. She created family among a community of strangers. She was most proud of volunteering on base and hosting Bible studies. Military life took her from Dallas, Texas to West Point, NY to beautiful Carmel, CA and parts in between. While in Carmel in the late 1970’s she stepped out of the confines of the military base and immersed herself in the emerging art world there. She worked for acclaimed tile artist Geza St. Galy as his gallery assistant. Her beautiful face inspired some of his pieces of female Icons. This includes a mosaic of the Mother Mary that resides on the grounds of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Carmel Valley, CA. From there she and Bob served in Bamberg, Germany. While there she took opportunities to travel to Rome, Paris and Copenhagen. 

In 1979 she & her two children moved back to the Dallas area. She was an active member of her church and volunteered for the Salvation Army prison ministry. She fully trusted Christ’s protection and was fearless in a room of incarcerated persons. She again brought kindness and community to others and changed lives in the name of Christ. She also worked in the Men’s Department at Nieman Marcus in Prestonwood Mall. Her clients trusted and adored her and she was often the department’s top salesperson. She even had the opportunity to outfit the leading men of the 1980’s TV series “Dallas.” 

In 1984 she became the one and only “Geegaw” to her first grandchild. She would eventually be blessed with a total of 8 grandchildren & 10 great-grandchildren. She welcomed her Missouri residing granddaughters to “Camp Geegaw” and along with their Texas cousins she doted on them all. They recall trips to yummy burger joints for burgers, fries, milkshakes and for her, always a Coke. She treated her granddaughters to high tea. She enjoyed her grandson’s basketball games and shopping with him at Pac-Sun. She held many roles and titles in life but her most enjoyable was “Geegaw.” 

In 1987 she married Michael C. Hayes. After working in sales for a few more years she retired to focus on creating a beautiful home where her family and friends were always welcomed at any time of the day. She flew to Jerusalem whenever she felt God called her there. She traveled alone, again, fully trusting in God’s protection. She enjoyed being available to her family and did all she could to help her mother and younger brother enjoy their final years. She and Mike enjoyed curating their home, traveling, cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, going on walks by their creek and fighting over who would be victorious on Texas-OU weekend. They hosted holidays and family and friend’s birthdays. Their favorite holiday to host was Christmas. Her excitement for Jesus’s birth brought abounding joy. No meal could be eaten until we’d given thanks and no dessert could be enjoyed until we sang HBD to Jesus while surrounding his personalized lit birthday cake. 

She had to say goodbye to Mike in 2012. Her beloved baby brother passed away just a month later. After the initial shock and grief, she leaned into spending time with family and friends specifically her older brother, Tim, her high school best friend Carol Lingard, her neighbor Carol Dux and her flying buddy Martha Jane. She enjoyed the many high school and college graduations of grandkids along with watching 3 of her granddaughters get married. She got to meet all 10 of her great-grandchildren. 

She is survived by her older brother John Timothy Post, III. Her two children survive her as well. Son John Craig Castleman, wife Ivy and daughter Claire Castleman Adrian and husband Matt. Her grandkids Stefanie Castleman Gordan & husband DJ, Melissa Castleman Williams & husband Clayton Williams, Courtney Castleman Schubert & husband Chase, Collin Castleman, Morgan Adrian Barkau & husband Cullan, Allysen Adrian West & husband Brock, Madison Adrian and Annie Grace Adrian. Her great grandkids Ariah, Gabby, Lowery, Nico, Wells, Oliver, Zoey, Kate, Rhys and Harrison all survive her. Her niece Robin Post Glasgow & husband Scott and the Jenkins’ nieces and nephews also survive her. We are grateful to her supportive friends who called and visited to the very end; Martha Jane Terrell, Linda Secor, Neta Lesjak, Ann Brown, Jonelle Meredith, Rob Parker, Ann Kem, Beth Cartland, Carol Dux, Stacey Castleman and Ray Burnett. We are incredibly grateful for the grace and loving care from the amazing staff of Dayspring Memory Care, Avalon Memory Care and Three Oaks Hospice. 

We rejoice in knowing that she is now reunited with so very many loved ones and friends, especially her beloved younger brother Barry Post, her parents and grandparents, her cousin Arnold and her lifelong best friend Carol Lingard. 

Her family and many friends are grateful for her legacy. She was an example of how to see the soul of a person and treat all people with kindness, to celebrate for no reason at all, to find laughter in any situation and most importantly have faith that Jesus is the way the truth & the life. We will miss her and look forward to the day when we are reunited. 

Burial in Gatesville, Texas is private. We will celebrate Helen’s life & legacy on August 9, 2025 with a High Tea in her honor! We’ll sip & share! Extended family and friends are welcome.