Dateline: April 12, 2007

Kenneth Eugene Banister, 74, died Thursday, April 5, 2007, in Claude.

Services were held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April, 2007, in the Robertson Funeral Directors Chapel of Memories in Clarendon with Rev. Bryan Knowles, Retired Baptist Minister, officiating.  Interment was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon.  Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors, Inc., of Clarendon.

Mr. Banister was born July 18, 1932, to Fletcher Elbert and Ollie Maggie Brown Banister in Hedley, Texas.  He married Leota Marshall on January 1, 1952, in Clarendon.  He had lived in Amarillo before moving to Claude 30 years ago.  He had worked for Amarillo Road Company prior to his retirement.  He was a lifetime member of the Panhandle Kennel Club, French Bulldog Club of America, and a charter member of the French Bulldog Club of Dallas/Ft. Worth.  He was a member of the first Baptist Church of Claude.

Mr. Banister was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kenneth Dwight Banister, on November 15, 1982; three brothers; and three sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Leota Banister of Claude; two daughters, Denise Compton and husband David of Hurst, and Donna Banister Spohn and husband Tony of Claude; one brother, Robert Banister of Cario, Georgia; one sister, Barbara Lee and husband Loy of Sanger; one granddaughter, Jennifer Bible and husband Charles of Sanche; five grandsons, Kenneth Compton and D.C. Compton both of Hurst, and June, Jonah, and Jacob Lara of Claude; one great-grandson, David “Peanut” Compton of Hurst.

The family requests memorials by to Valet Parking at BSA Hospital, BSA Hospice, or Claude EMS.