Graveside services for L.M. "Melvin" Banister, 75, of Portales, will be held at 2 P.M., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, in the Floyd Cemetery, with Farril Defoor officiating. Jared Langenegger, Shaun Banister, Cavin Banister, Colton Langenegger, "Little" Will Banister and Colt Banister will be honorary pallbearers.
Mr. Banister was one of a set of triplets born April 16, 1931 in Floyd to the home of Pearl and Sylvester L. Banister. He passed away Tuesday evening, Jan. 2, 2007, at his home at the edge of Portales. The family moved to Arkansas when he was 13, and returned to Clovis two years later. For several years he worked in the Uranium mines at Grants, N.M. Through the years he had worked hauling cars and driving trucks, doing mechanic work and welding, trading scrap metal and dealing in antiques. In recent years he had restored a number of antique wagons, chuck wagons and covered wagons and traded them along with other antiques.
He is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Melvin Lynn and Tricia Banister, of Carlsbad, N.M., Garland Banister, of Washington, and Lonnie and Deanna Banister, of Portales; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Cynthia and John Langenegger, of Las Cruces, N.M., Dianna and Lloyd Barella of St. Paul, Neb. and Kathy Banister, of Portales; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ralph Banister and "Chock" Banister, both of Clovis; three sisters, Ruth Freeman, of Clovis, Melzine Worm, his triplet sister, of Clovis and Alma Silvertooth, of Valley View, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Earsie, Ivan, Sylvester, Louis, Elvin, who was the other triplet and Grady Banister; a sister, Grace Rue; as well as other siblings that died as small children; and a daughter, Gladys Banister.
Services are under the direction of Wheeler Mortuary of Portales, 505-356-4455.
Published in the Clovis News Journal and the Portales News-Tribune from 1/4/2007 - 1/5/2007.