Lawrence Banks

He was born to Eulas Banks Sr. and Cherry Wright-Banks. Together with brothers Eulas Banks Jr., Joel Banks, Frederick Banks and sister Desiree Banks. Lawrence grew up on Chicago's southside. He graduated from Dunbar Vocational High School where he enjoyed wrestling for the high school team. Upon graduation in 1978 one week later he joined the United States Marine Corps. It was here where he gave 21 years of service. During his military career, Lawrence deployed to many countries including Korea, Japan, Italy, and served in the Gulf War.

Lawrence enjoyed every moment of his 21 Marine Corps years, and it was while he was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1996 where he met his current wife Lisa who was a nursing student. Upon retiring from the Marine Corps in 1999, Lawrence moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to continue his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science at UNLV. Upon graduating in 2003, Lawrence worked in Kuwait for 18 months. He returned to the United States in 2005 to fulfill the role of fatherhood, and welcomed his son Mason Cole Banks into the world.

Lawrence stepped into fatherhood with pride and excitement and all who knew him knew that Mason was "his world." He was a forever present father, from drop off to pick up from school, attending birthday parties with Mason, taking him to baseball games, boy scouts, soccer practice and organizing sleepovers, to simply hanging out at home watching movies with his son.

Lawrence was a sociable, unassuming man with a gentle nature. He enjoyed get-togethers at the house and loved to barbecue for people (even though he'd start cooking at 7am and serve the food at 7pm!) He loved to sit around and chat with a cigar and listen to his jazz music playing in the background.

Lawrence, we love and miss you so very much. You were a shining light and a comforting soul. You were a place where one could lay their heart and their head and not have to give a reason why. Today, we gather to celebrate your life and legacy and to bid you a loving farewell. Rest peacefully Gunny..Semper Fi..

IYAOYAS