James Edwin Banks, 84, passed away Thursday, July 23, 2026 at the BSA Hospital in Amarillo, TX following a brief illness.
He was born on July 9, 1942, in Hooker, OK to Willis Leslie and Jewell Mabel Woodrum Banks. He was the baby of their family which included sisters, Mabel, Lula, and Phyllis, and brothers, Leslie, Carl, and Eugene. He grew up on the Banks farm southeast of Hardesty. He attended Hardesty School and graduated in 1960.
He worked at the Voiles Ford Dealership in Perryton, as a Mechanic for several years, then purchased a building on East 9th Street in Perryton, hired two mechanics, and called his business Banks Auto Repair. He owned it until he retired and relocated to the state of Arkansas where he lived for several years. He worked as an auctioneer there. Later he moved back to the Banks farm where he lived until his death.
He was divorced. He never had any children of his own but he loved children and had great influence with any. He loved to help his Dad with his farming and continued until he purchased half of the farm after his father’s death and his mother became ill and had to move into the Booker Assisted Living Facility.
He loved to help people and did a lot of volunteer service through his lifetime. He was a mentor and enjoyed teaching his friends about mechanics. He enjoyed going to Hardesty Senior Citizens for their delicious meals and visiting. He enjoyed going to Pak-a-Snak and visiting with all of his friends there, and he was faithful to attend services each Sunday at Bethel Baptist Church SE of Hardesty. He especially liked the singing.
James was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mabel Headrick and husband Don, and Lula Overstreet and husband Robert. Also two brothers, Carl Banks and wife Janelle, and Willis Eugene who died as a young child; also his sister-in-law, Reba Banks.
He is survived by his brother, Leslie Banks and wife Ruby of Amarillo, and his sister, Phyllis Brant, also of Amarillo; his greatnephew, Seth Gibson, who took care of him and helped him in his last few years of life, as well as his longtime friend from Perryton, James Sharpton and his friend, Sharon Croy, who live in Amarillo; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He will be missed by a host of good friends, but most of all by his little companion dog, Sugar.
The family would like to thank Rocheal Mathis, Diana Lynch, and Leta Roberts for caring for him the past few months. He enjoyed their company.
The family will greet friends at the Bunch Roberts Funeral Home in Guymon on Friday evening, July 31 from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 1 at 10 a.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church, SE of Hardesty, with Rev. Odie Nunley and Dennis Gibson officiating. Interment will follow at Hartville Cemetery, SE of Hardesty.
In lieu of flowers the family has requests memorials be given to the Hardesty Senior Citizens Center. Memorials will be accepted at Bunch - Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1112 Guymon, OK 73942. Friends can sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www. bunchroberts.com.