Irene France Young Banks Howard

Irene France Young Banks Howard, 102, longtime resident of Sentinel, was called into God’s presence on Sunday, August 23rd, at the Primrose Retirement Center, Stillwater, Ok..

Irene was born on August 10, 1918, to Edward and Bessie Chism Young. Ed was killed in France during WWI shortly after Irene was born. Irene grew up on a farm in the Port community and attended Port Schools.

She married Thurman Banks on December l, 1934, in Sentinel. Born to this union was Gary Jack (1941) and Thurman Max Banks (1945).

Thurman and Irene spent their life together farming and raising their sons in the Port community. They were members of the First United Methodist Church, Sentinel. Irene enjoyed being a homemaker and helped Thurman wherever needed, and was known for her delicious noon meals that she prepared for the farm hands. Thurman and Irene had been married for 36 years when he passed away in 1971.

She married James Howard in 1979, and they lived in Sentinel until 2001, when they moved to Bryan, Texas. James passed away in 2007, and in 2015, Irene moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where she resided until her death.

Irene’s hobbies and talents were sewing, floral arranging, and crocheting hangers for family and friends. She was instrumental in teaching her grandchildren to pray and she was vigilant for them to memorize the Lord’s prayer. She encouraged and helped them to be present in Sunday school, church, and Vacation Bible School. She loved attending and serving with her friends in the Methodist Church.

Irene was strong and gentle, tough and tender, and deeply principled. She was a go-getter with a backbone and timeless morals. She had a good old fashioned work ethic, and was smart.

She thrived on being disciplined, organized, and meticulous about cleanliness. She was a gracious and generous hostess, and enjoyed entertaining relatives, her children’s friends, and later hosting tea parties for her granddaughters and their friends.

She always had fresh brewed ice tea, a few homemade pies along with a few empty crusts in the freezer in case unexpected company came. She kept 7-up and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies in the cupboard for her grandkids. If you spent the night with her on Saturday night, you knew you were going to watch Lawrence Welk.

Her grandchildren never needed to knock, her door was always open and her couch ready for visiting. Her wit and humor will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husbands: Thurman Banks and James Howard; her son, Max Banks; her great grandson: Charlie Freeman and brother: Argle Carpenter.

She is survived by son Gary Banks of Stillwater, Ok,; daughter-in-law Shirley Banks of El Reno, OK; granddaughter Cherie Ninomiya and great granddaughter Reina of Kansas City, KS; granddaughter Carrie Freeman and husband CR, great grandchildren

Vivian, Zell, Asa, and Fanny Freeman of Hobart, OK,; grandson T.R. Banks and wife Renee, great grandchildren Lillian and Jack of Edmond, OK; Granddaughter Amy Read and husband Stan, great grandchildren Ella, Eden and Eli of Lufkin, TX; granddaughter Angie Gubser and husband Eric and great granddaughter Aubrey of Lufkin TX; granddaughter Ali Miller Mark S. 203 Cordell, Oklahom 580-832-53 and husband Matt and great grandchildren Kaidence, Radley, and Hazel Miller of El Reno, OK, and several nieces and nephews and beloved friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Methodist Children's Home in Waco, Texas

Graveside Services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at the Sentinel Cemetery in Sentinel, Oklahoma under the direction of Ray and Martha’s Funeral Home.