Leland Ward Banks, 93 of Brownwood, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather was welcomed home to Heaven by his Lord on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Friday March 26, 2010 in the Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Rochelle Cemetery. Visitation is set for Thursday March 25, 2010 at Davis-Morris Funeral Home, from 6pm until 8pm.
Leland was born May 20, 1916 to Miles and Carrie Fikes Banks in Coke County. He lived in Katemcy before the family moved to Mercury. He attended Mercury schools. He married the love of his life, Ora Madeline Newman, on January 29, 1939 in Mercury, Tx. They recently celebrated 71 wonderful years of marriage.
Leland first worked on the White Company ranch at age 17. He was employed by the railroad for several years. He served in the Navy during WWII, from 1944 to 1945. He then worked again at the ranch until 1965 when he moved to Rochelle and was employed with the Rochelle school until he retired in 1991. He was a much loved fixture at the school. As he went about his work you could usually hear him as he whistled while working. He was also known for his ability to shoe horses.
Leland was ordained as a Deacon at Mercury Baptist Church. He taught Young Peoples’ Sunday school for several years. He served as a deacon at the Rochelle Baptist Church and could always be found sitting in his pew on Sunday morning before moving to Brownwood and becoming a member of Victory Baptist Church. Leland had been an active member of the American Legion of Mercury where he served in several offices. Most important to him was his love for and service to his Lord and Savior. He will always be remembered by his friends and family as a Christian man who led by example. He loved to sing, most often hymns and a few cowboy songs. He loved gardening, raising chickens, fishing, playing 42 with friends, and visiting with friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his sister Beuna Nowlin, his brothers; Marshall and Miles Banks, and Curtis Jones, his grandson Leland Frank (Frankie) Banks, daughters-in-law Rosalie Banks and Mildred Banks, and sister-in-law Maw Rawls.
He is survived by his wife Ora Madeline, his children; William H (Bill) Banks of San Angelo, Angela Ham and husband C.T. of Blanket, Lynn Banks and wife Sharron of Conroe, John Banks and wife Sandy of Owens, David banks and wife Arlene of Bangs, his sister Nola Faye Downing of Brownwood, sister-in-law Martha Nell Banks of Brownwood, brother-in-law John W Newman of Wichita Falls, his grandchildren; Serena Mackey and husband Ben of Blanket, Deloris Beene and husband Randy of Granbury, Janeen Tucker and husband Fred of Early, C.T. (Tinker) Ham, Jr. and wife Kayla of Gatesville, Willie Banks and wife Lori of San Angelo, Darla Burnett of San Angelo, Chris Banks and wife Stacy of Beaumont, Damian Banks and wife Carl of Spring, Melanie Henslee and husband Chad of Nederland, Dean Banks and wife Beth of Blanket, Julie Banks Smith of Early, David Banks, II of Brownwood, Robin of Clarksville, TN, Larry of New Braunfels, Vance Sanders of Nederland, Brandi Tatarchuk of Vidor, and Carolyn Garza of Grand Rapids, MI. He had 38 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandsons, and several nieces and nephews.