Obituary of Wayne Patrick Banks

Wayne Patrick Banks, age 80 of Mount Vernon, went to be with his Lord and Savior Saturday, March 2. He was born April 26, 1938 to William Petteway Banks and Uinta Aytchia Tittle Banks in Mount Vernon. He was the seventh of nine children.

Mr. Banks grew up in Mount Vernon and graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1956. His graduating class has had strong bonds throughout the years, and class members will be honored at his services. He attended classes at East Texas State University in Commerce. He married Janie Bass February 20, 1959. He married Judith K. Lane April 10, 1982.

He learned the typesetting trade from Jimmy Bass at the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald. He moved to Dallas to continue his career in typesetting, working for Trade Type for a number of years. He soon moved into sales. In 1979, he created and managed Type and Stat, the typesetting division for Tracey Locke Advertising. He completed his career with Texas Graphic Resources.

He was an avid barbecue cooker and loved to compete in cook offs. In 2000, he represented Hill County in the Go Texan state competition at the Superdome. He enjoyed dancing with his wife, Judy and singing karaoke. They loved to travel together with friends and family. He also collected life-long friends everywhere he worked and wherever he traveled.

Mr. Banks was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Charles Banks, Harry Lee Banks, Betty Glen Green, Billie Pat Stephenson, Nelva Joy Banks, Jerry Banks, and David Banks.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Judy Banks; his children and spouses, Rick and Linda Banks of Carrollton, Susan and John Reeves of Mount Vernon, Darren Farley and Brad and Leslie Farley of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Wayne and Ammie Stratton of Weatherford, and Rob Stratton of Spring, Tex.; 16 grandchildren, Patrick Scherf, Teri Scherf, Jacquelyn Phillips, Kaite Reeves, Madison Clingan, Preston Farley, Colby Farley, Tyler Farley, Kayla Farley, Emma Farley, Desiree Stratton, Deidre Stratton, Meagan Stratton, Julia Brown, Taylor Stratton, and Kason Stratton; great grandchildren, Madison, Lindsay, and Kylee Scherf, Colton, Baileyanne, and Cashton Lester, and John Wayne and Jayson Thomas Phillips; one great great grandchild, Kolt Lester; a sister and husband, Neda and Buck Carr of Mount Vernon.

Funeral services for Mr. Banks will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 7 at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. A visitation with the family will begin at 10 a.m. A second service will be at 3 p.m. Friday, March 8 at Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home in Goldthwaite, Tex. Burial will follow at the Goldthwaite Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice.