Stephen Steve H Castle

On a beautiful spring morning in 1949, Bakersfield, CA, residents Charles Hartley and Gladys Jewel Castle welcomed their first child, Stephen Hartley Castle, into the world. His April 14th birthday had additional significance as he shared it with his grandfather, James Hartley Castle.

In September, 1965, he met his future wife and soul mate Barbara at a church retreat. They locked eyes with one another and experienced love at first sight. In 1970 they married and moved to Sacramento, CA. Their family grew in 1974 when Brian Hartley was born and expanded with the arrival of Aimee Elizabeth in 1976 and Scott Stephen in 1979. Their lives were filled with the joyful noises of children and pets running through the house and playing.

Steve enthusiastically appreciated the beach, the mountains, camping, riding motorcycles, photography, all genres of music, his pets, and above all, his friends and family. Early in life he relished escaping from Bakersfield for a day of excitement riding dirt bikes in the hills outside the city, and surfing at the beach. Throughout his life, Steve took many motorcycle trips and often returned to the beach for the serenity of photographing the natural beauty of the ocean. As an adolescent, he and his friends were in a garage band that competed in a televised "battle of the bands". Steve was a fun-loving father who would occasionally surprise one, both, or all three of his kids by taking spontaneous drives to the lake, mountains, beach, or ice cream shop.

After an early retirement in 2007, Steve connected with the Oregon Scooter Club and engaged in friendship and camaraderie with fellow scooter enthusiasts. He cherished those friendships and reveled in the shared experience of riding scooters and motorcycles throughout the scenic Oregon back roads.

Steve showed a profound love for his wife Barbara and continuously found ways to surprise her and to let her know how much he loved her, often whisking her away to the Oregon seaside for a memorable weekend getaway. He was extremely proud of his children, loved them dearly, and exulted in their accomplishments. Steve adored his grandchildren Heidi, Taryn, and Liam. On the celebrated occasion of a birthday, he would take each grandchild shopping to pick out a very special gift and enjoy a day of fun with Grandpa. Heidi, Taryn, and Liam will always remember Grandpa making them their favorite snack of hot cocoa and popcorn when they spent the night.

Steve is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Barbara, and their two canine children: Gretta and Niki; his son Brian and his wife Heather of Charleston, South Carolina; his daughter Aimee and her fiancé Steve of Oregon City, Oregon; his son Scott and his wife Melody of Kings Valley, Oregon; his brother Phil and his wife Susie of Atascadero, CA; and his sister Susan and her husband Chuck of Bakersfield, CA.

Steve will be dearly missed by his loving family and many friends.

"Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy." -- Inuit Proverb