Mary Lou Banner

Mary Lou was the only beloved child to Frank Herman Gressen and Lula Pearl McCleerey Gressen. She was born and spent her childhood in the prairie town of Dupree, South Dakota. When she was a teenager the family moved to Rupert, Idaho. She attended Rupert High School. She loved to go to dances and often went to the Y-Dell dance hall in Burley, Idaho with her friends. She met her husband Curtis Banner at a dance. They danced their way through their 63 yrs of marriage until his death in 2014. They were married in Elko, Nevada on September 20, 1949. They lived in Burley for a time then Curtis went to school in Albion, Idaho where they lived in the dorms. They met lifelong friends there. After Curtis finished college and did his student teaching, they moved to Roseville, CA in 1955. Curtis worked for the Roseville City School District as a teacher and later as a principal. Their daughter Danielle was born the following year in 1956.

Mary Lou was a very talented seamstress, enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She would sew suits and dresses for people and her daughter was always decked out in dresses that she made. She even would recover her furniture. Mary Lou handmade beautiful full-size quilts. She loved to decorate, and her home reflected that talent. Besides being a homemaker, she worked as an Avon Lady for several years. She also worked for Roseville City School District in the central library where they sent textbooks out to the different schools. Mary Lou belonged to a Sewing Club. They would get together once a month to socialize and work on different projects. She made good friendships there. Tracking her family history was passionate to her. She and Curtis visited relatives in Iowa and Wisconsin to learn about the family. They both loved to travel, and they visited most states. They always made new friends along their way.

Mary Lou is survived by her daughter Danielle Coenen (Donn) Grass Valley, Grandchildren Jaimie Coenen (Kathie) Grass Valley, Kristopher Coenen, Grass Valley, Erik Coenen (Meridith) Citrus Heights, Gr Grandchildren Wyatt Coenen and Riley Coenen. She was preceded in death by her husband Curtis Banner and parents Frank Gressen and Lula Gressen.