Mike Banks passed away from this life on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Denison, Texas at 61 years, 7 months and 22 days old. Mike was born to parents Joe and Puddy Banks on Jan. 29, 1958, in the middle of a blizzard.
He met the love of his life Lynn Crisp in August 1974 and they married almost two years later on June 26, 1976. From that day on they considered themselves a team in life and were rarely ever apart. Mike and Lynn opened their own business, Banks Motor Company, in Durant, Okla. in the spring of 1982. They opened their car lot with the belief that they could glorify the Lord by offering people a positive and honest used car buying experience. The car lot quickly became more than just a business. It became a vehicle in itself, to meet friends, share their love of Christ, and welcome people with hospitality into what has become a second home.
Mike was an avid reader and a gifted storyteller. He enjoyed weekly visits from his many cherished friends to the car lot, discussing all variety of topics. And many a “feisty conversation”, as he would call it, was had over his desk. He was always happy to see a friendly face show up at his door.
Mike loved Muscle Cars, and in 1974 his parents bought him a gold 1967 Plymouth GTX for his first car. He met his sweetheart Lynn that same summer because of that car and his future sister-in-law Jeana Crisp, whom he loved like his own sister. Mike and Lynn would marry and leave the church in the GTX in 1976. They chose to sell the old Plymouth and replace it for a more practical option in 1979 after the birth of their first child Kristen. He always dreamed of finding it again someday and in 1997 that dream became a reality when he found that same car again in Effingham, Ill. In 2001, he was able to get that car back again. It was one of the great joys in his life to be able find, get back, and restore his beloved ’67 GTX with his nephew James Clark.
In the fall of 2016, through much encouragement from his family, he began writing about his adventures in his gold ’67 and the miraculous way it was found and bought back again. Through the help of many family and friends he and his youngest daughter Charity wrote, edited, and published his book “Get ‘Er Sideways” in June of 2018.
Mike loved spending time discussing, buying, and going on adventures buying cars with his oldest daughter Kristen. And while many people knew him for his love of cars, his greatest passion was his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who he surrendered his life to at the young age of 10 years old. He was dedicated to seeking God’s will in every decision he made in his life, no matter great or small.
Mike Banks was a loving, honest, steadfast, and exceptional man of God. Some of his greatest traits were his strength, wisdom, steadfastness, and enthusiasm. His loss has left a void that only Jesus can fill. His family will use the principles and values he instilled in them to carry on his legacy to honor him and glorify Christ.
Mike is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Helen Rae (Black) Callen and Richard E. “Dick” Callen Sr.; paternal grandparents, Ruby Olive (Hart) Banks and Orley Joseph Banks; uncles: Richard E. Callen Jr., Charles “Bud” Banks, Robert “Bob” Cooksey.
Mike is survived by his wife, Lynn Banks of the home; daughters: Kristen and Charity Banks of Calera, Okla.; mother, Carol “Puddy” (Callen) Hart of Princeton, Mo.; father, Robert Joseph Banks of Princeton, Mo.; step-mother, Lisa Banks of Princeton, Mo.; step-father, John Hart of Princeton, Mo.; brother, Steve Banks of Grain Valley, Mo.; sister-in-law, Jeana Crisp of Calera, Okla.; nephews: James Clark of Calera, Okla., Joshua Banks and wife, Morgan of Oak Grove, Mo, Samuel Banks of Nashville, Tenn., Seth Banks of Springfield, Mo, Luke Banks of Springfield, Mo.; nieces: Katelan Banks of Grain Valley, Mo., Caroline Banks of Grain Valley, Mo.; great nieces and nephews: Emmelia Banks of Grain Valley, Mo, River Banks of Oak Grove, Mo.; and numerous beloved cousins and treasured friends.