Buena Rae Castleman-Nickell passed away July 31, 2015 in Salinas, California. She was born in Nashville, Arkansas to Thurston and Grace Propps on Sept. 28, 1930.
She married D.M. Castleman Jr. and moved to California first settling in Pittsburg and then later in Antioch. She was employed at Glass Containers Corp for several years. D.M. Preceded her in death and she later Married J. Paul Nickell of Napa, California. They moved to Middletown, California where she was employed as a teacher’s aid at the Middletown Elementary School until her retirement. Following Paul’s death in 2004 she moved to Salinas, California to be close to her daughter Patricia Galli. Buena Rae is preceded in death by her parents Thurston and Grace (Hipp) Propps, her brother Randy Lloyd Propps, husbands ,D.M.Castleman, Jr. and J. Paul, Nickell, son David Allen Castleman (Denise) daughter Mona Kay Bonari (Bobby) and a stepson Quintin Nickell.
Buena Rae is survived by her sister, Bonnie Downs (Roy) of Nashville, Arkansas; her aunt Minona Gaisser of Indiana; daughter Patricia Galli (Robert) of Salinas, California and her son Stephen Castleman (Maxine) of Wenatchee, Washington; stepdaughters Needa Nickell of Eureka, California and Yolanda Nickell of Louisiana; grandchildren Michelle Costello and Robert Galli Jr (Mandi) of Salinas, Nicole and Natalie Castleman of Wenatchee, Washington, Joey Castleman (Justine) and Reyna Olivera of Antioch, California, Blane Tillotson (Tosha) of Carmichael, California Luke Tillotson (Anita) of Stockton, California and Annie Cole of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 9 great grandchildren. The family wishes to extend their extreme gratitude to the Windsor Respiratory Rehabilitation center in Salinas for the wonderful care and support that was given to Buena Rae the past 2 years. Please make any donations to the Anderson Springs (Middletown) Fire Victims. (Valley Fire). There will be a private interment at the Oak View Park Memorial Cemetery, Antioch,Ca at the deceased request.
