Aaron James Casillas

Aaron James Casillas, 56, passed away January 12, 2023 in Houston, Texas. Aaron was born November 5, 1966, in San Antonio, Texas to Guadalupe and Celia Casillas. He was preceded in death by his mother, Celia Casillas. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Karen, and son, Christopher; father, Guadalupe Casillas; brother, Dr. Eric Casillas, and numerous cousins, friends, and family members. Aaron was born and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Luther Burbank High School and received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Southwest Texas State University. He was proud of his roots and proud to be a native Texan. His career as a middle school band director spanned almost 30 years, working first in Laredo, Texas and then in Houston, Texas at Spring Oaks Middle School, where he spent 25 years as the head band director. He was voted 2023 Teacher of the Year at Spring Oaks, and his nomination read in part: “Mr. Casillas cares about each of his students, seeing each one’s potential and drawing out each student’s best.” It was a source of pride for him that his students consistently did well in competitions and he celebrated their accomplishments as if they were his own children, many of which he kept in touch with long after they left Spring Oaks. Aaron had a wide variety of interests. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and barbecuing on the weekends. He made many memories as a boy hunting with his father, uncles, cousins, and best friend, Gibby, a tradition he continued with his own son and theirs. He was an accomplished saxophonist, but truthfully he could play any band instrument well. In his younger years, Aaron played in several Tejano bands and had his own band, The Keymasters, with which he performed in San Antonio and South Texas. Music was always huge part of his life. Whether it was jazz, classical, old country, heavy metal, new wave, or Spanish, his musical tastes were vast. Aaron was also an avid collector and breeder of snakes. His knowledge of herpetology, reptile husbandry, and genetics was well respected in the snake collector’s community, and occasionally he would even get calls from vets or friends needing to identify a particular animal. Additionally, he loved to travel with his family and was able to visit many different states and countries over the years. He was always ready to go on an adventure, whether it was a road trip, a cruise, or an international flight. Aaron was also known for his mischievous grin, wicked sense of humor, and his zest for life in general. He always made a gathering more fun and made sure that everyone else was having a good time, too. His presence will be sorely missed by friends and family alike. A memorial service honoring Aaron’s life will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079. A private interment will follow at a later date.

Aaron James Casillas

November 5, 1966 - January 12, 2023