Lois (Lupe) Jeannette Banks

Lois (Lupe) Jeannette Banks was born on Nov. 6, 1936 to the proud parents of Charles Thomas and Lillie Mae Portlock of San Diego, California. Lupe came to know Christ at an early age and grew closer to the Lord over the years. In her earlier years she attended San Pasqual Academy in San Diego, where she was a star volleyball player throughout her high school years. One of her many talents was playing the piano, and every now and then you might get a song out of her. Lupe graduated from High School 1954 and during that time her sister Nancy introduced her to the lover her life Sailor Morris Laurn Banks, whom she married in 1954. They later moved to Compton, California where they began their family.

Lupe began working at an early age. One of her first jobs was working at "Auntie Bells Restaurant" in San Diego where she was a waitress. She also worked for North American and Hughes Aircraft in El Segundo, California as an assembly inspector where she retired in 1990. She had a love for stylish clothes and fine jewelry and with her 5'11" stature you would know when she walked in a room. Morris and Lupe moved to Las Vegas in 1990 where they would enjoy their retirement days taking long rides in their motor home or just taking a boat ride along the lake.

Coming from a large family she learned what it meant to enjoy life. There wasn't a weekend that went by that she didn't have a bid-whist card party planned or one to go to. Lupe truly was the life of the party. She was a great cook and her specialty was Mexican food. Hence the name "Lupe" was given to her. You never had to wonder what she was thinking because Lupe was never at a loss for words. She would let you know exactly how she felt about any given situation! It was no different during her daily conversations with her sister Nancy they would debate current events or the latest T.V. shows.

Nothing brought more joy to her than spending time with her granddaughter Brittany. When no one else could get her to say yes, Brittany found a way. Whether it was for a new outfit, a toy or just going to the amusement park. She finally added an addition to her family Julius Caesar a Golden French Poodle. She protected him and he would do the same. He never left her side, until she had to place him in another home due to her illness. Lupe would spend the next few years devoting all of her time to her husband Morris (AKA Mickey). She was an amazing caregiver to him.

Recently Lupe was faced with declining health and on the evening of February 10, 2018 she went home to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Lillie Mae Portlock, her brothers Kelly, Ernest, Charles Thomas, and Marly Portlock and sister Mary Magdalene Portlock.

She is survived by her husband Morris Laurn Banks. Her daughter, Rhonda Rene' Brand and Son-in-Law Prentice Brand, Jr.; Granddaughter, Dr. Brittany Lauren Brand-Poinson and husband Rene Poinson; Sister Nancy Royal Portlock, Sister-in-Law Stella Portlock, nieces Alexis Patterson, Fonda Cormier, Ernyn, Deon, Tisha Portlock, Nephews Andre Brinney, Charles, James, Gerald, Steven and Marty Portlock Jr. She also leaves a host of relatives and friends who brought great joy to her life. She will be dearly missed.