Margaret Jane Banks

Margaret Jane Banks went to be with our Lord September 10, 2025. "Jane" as she was known by family and friends, was born to Frances (Fannie) and Lonnie Taylor on February 9, 1933, in Hill County, Texas. She moved to Austin at a very young age, and attended school in the Austin schools from Baker Elementary to Austin High. It is there she made sure to "catch the eye" of a tall lanky boy whom she saw as she gazed up the stairwell. Story has been told that she strolled slowly as to "allow" Dad (Bill Banks) to catch up with her which did not take any time with his long legs. Soon after their high school graduation, Jane left college at Southwest Texas State right before the end of a semester to marry Bill in April 1952. Jane initially worked to support Bill in finishing his education, and then began raising their three children. They were married for 64 years at the time of his death in May 2016.

Through the years, Jane followed Bill through many Texas cities during his coaching and school administration career, making lifelong friends in many communities across the State. Jane pursued a bachelor’s degree, while continuing to work at a local hospital until Bill’s career moved them to Lampasas. She lacked only a few hours but never returned to complete her degree. Their final professional move was to Hitchcock, where they lived for over fifteen years. While there, Jane was the office manager for the allergy division at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and assisted in grant-writing. During their time in Hitchcock, her mother(known as Mema), came to live with them and stayed with their family for the remainder of her life. After retiring, they returned home to Austin and rekindled their love for the city. She enjoyed many outings with her sisters visiting their old neighborhoods, noting the changes to their "town" over the decades. Jane loved nature, gardening, and wildflowers, and took many long drives through the Hill Country with Bill and with her sisters. The family also enjoyed many vacations to the Texas beaches.

Jane was thrilled to become “Granny” in 1986 after the birth of her first grandchild. As a special treat, Granny, along with her sisters, organized “Granny Camp” jointly for all of their older grandchildren at her home. From art classes and swimming lessons to painting outlines of themselves on the backyard fence, the cousins share many memories of these special times. Granny Camp became much less involved by the time the second wave of grandchildren were born. She did not attempt to host Granny Camp when the great-grandchildren came along, but she still made sure they had plenty of games, activities, toys and books to entertain them on their frequent visits. Granny enjoyed sharing hospitality and opened her home for many gatherings for extended family, hosting birthday parties, holiday gatherings, engagement parties, baby showers, and other celebrations.

Jane enjoyed traveling with Bill to many school conferences, annual golf tournaments with friends, family history trips with her mother and sisters, and traveling to visit children and grandchildren when they wandered out of state. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, encouraging a love of reading, enjoying nature, and sharing many long conversations on topics of all sorts. She had a genuine interest in their lives, and even up until her last days was encouraging them in their education, careers and interests.

Jane is survived by a daughter, Allison Banks Johnson and husband, Daniel, of Pearsall; a son, Dr. William J. Banks and wife, Dr Cheryl Sebesta Banks, of Billings, Montana; and a daughter-in-law, Marianne Landers Banks, of Lampasas.

She was a devoted “Granny” to 8 grandchildren and 16 grandchildren and a loving “Aunt Jane” to nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 64 years, William (Bill) Banks; a son, Brian Banks; a granddaughter Heather Banks; sisters Tommie Weaver and Myra Kerr; and a nephew, Steve Thomas Weaver.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Cristina Barbedillo with Right at Home and the staff of Willows at Leander for their compassionate and dedicated care.

Memorial service will be held at Weed-Corley Fish Funeral Home, Parkcrest Dr, Austin, Tx on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 4:00 pm.