LeRoy "Geno" Fairbanks

Services celebrating the life of LeRoy "Geno" Fairbanks will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Geno was born in Cass Lake, MN on April 20, 1936 and left this earth on June 20, 2019. He was raised Catholic and orphaned at the age of 12. He then helped raise his younger siblings in the Catholic orphanage that they were placed at until he joined the Air Force.

His wife, that he has many names for, Patricia, Patty Lou but mostly Pat, were married on August 3rd, 1960 and had 5 children that all loved him very much. Wow 59 years together. What an accomplishment. He would remind his children that they would not know what 59 years would ever feel like. He’s right! Geno and Pat loved life and spending time with family and enjoying the outdoors. If they were out and their favorite song from Buck Owens, “Together Again”, they would be in each other’s arms dancing… Their favorite hangout was the Base NCO club where they met some wonderful people and have stayed in touch with and had even spent many holidays as one Big family. Bill and Janette White were like having an Aunt and an Uncle to come and visit. In Geno’s retirement years they did lots of travel and visited many places. They never left without giving each other a kiss before leaving each other. Geno always worried where his kids or wife were and would always call and check on them no matter where you were. A phone call from Geno was going to happen. Their favorite time was spent with their children and grandchildren. Geno will be missed by Pat and her family.

Geno joined the Air Force September 30, 1954 and served his country with several tours to France, Greenland, Newfoundland and Thailand, where he was the Man where he fed all of his troops and made the best steak dinners. Through his career he was stationed at many bases within the United States before bringing his family to Bossier City, LA and making this their home. While in the Air Force he worked as a Supply Liaison, 2nd Supply, and making his final rank as Master Sergeant before Retiring September 30, 1980. Geno’s love for his country was shown every day. He flew his flag high with pride and when you saw him, he had a hat on that represented his military career. This is where he became lifelong friend with many of his co-workers. Butch Kitchens and Juan (Benny) Benevides and Ray Sprinkle have been great friends over the years as well as many others. Geno loved retirement and deserved all this time he had to spend and do what he wanted.

Early on he became an avid fisherman and while doing so he meet a lot of great friends, The Cattells, The McCalips, The Mottershaws and many others. Geno taught all his kids how to fish, and more importantly how to cook them! Many, many days were spent at Flagg Lake on Barksdale fishing and when his wife and kids got off of work and school we all would be at the lake doing homework and waiting on him to see what he caught and eat dinner.

He loved to have squadron picnics for his work family every year, cooking was a passion of his. Of course his family was right with him preparing and cooking for the large picnic. Every holiday and birthday he would always request a family get together and cookout to celebrate, fish frys were his favorite.

Each year for his birthday, he shared the first bite of cake with all his grandchildren and great grands. He would swipe his finger on the side of the cake, and they followed taking their finger-full. It gave Dad so much pleasure.

Geno has taken in so many orphans as he referred to them. All of his kids’ friends were always welcomed into his home with no questions asked. Everyone who was at the house during dinner would always be invited to stay. Geno was loved by all of you and there are so many of you, Terry and Greg, Fielder, Vince Lafferty, Mike Murray, Rod Haydel, Joe Davis, Cindia Bullock, Scott Durfee, Jeff Dawsey and many others.

Geno never met a stranger and was loved by all. His neighbors, the Hills and Ms. King, have been the best and caring neighbors you could have ever asked for. He always had a story to tell, some were great ones and some would have you crying and laughing the whole time, but you would hang on to every word he would say. His wife, kids and his grand kids would share many memories and lots of laughs. When Geno would tell a joke, he would laugh so hard he would turn beet red in the face and cry with laughter and so would we all.

People would often ask Geno what church do you go to? He would always say the Round Church, their reply was Where’s that?. He would say the one where the devil cannot corner you. This was funny to his relatives up North and they often tell this as a joke to their friends about their Uncle Geno from the South. So, if you want to hear some memories just ask any of his kids!

Grandkids… oh those grandkids, he loved them all and any kid that came over to the house. His latest little bundle of joy was his great granddaughter Brooklynn, she was the light of his eye! Brooklynn was his little puff check girl, every day he would share a bowl of cheerios with her and of course throw a few to the dog as well. If she was napping, he just couldn’t wait to wake her up and play with her. She had many toys and light up figures they would share. He treated everyone with same respect. Everyone was welcomed to his house with opened arms.

He is survived by his wife Patricia (Pat) of 59 years; sons, Jeff Fairbanks and wife Sherry Beth, Gary Fairbanks and Eddie Morgan; daughters, Pam Gifford and husband Chris, Terri Fairbanks, Brenda Fairbanks Teutsch and; grandchildren; Erika Davis, Cody Fairbanks, Brittany Morgan, Kristen Fairbanks and Dylan Teutsch; great grandchildren, Ayden Truelove, Branson Fairbanks, Raeleigh Coffey and Brooklynn Walker; sisters, Marion Parker and DeLaine Bendorf; brother, William Frank Fairbanks; brother in law, Arlan Oftedahl and extended family, David Delk, Brian Cloinger, Chris Truelove, Rebecca Morgan, Maloree Morgan, Ty Morgan, Caden Walker, Felicia Fairbanks, Shannon Parker and Larry Guillot.

With a special thanks to lifelong friends and extended family, Cliff Haydel and Kimmi Combs who have been by our sides from the beginning.

Pallbearers will be Eddie Morgan, Larry Hill, Butch Kitchens, Bill Lang, Cliff Haydel, Scott Durfee, Troy Asberry, Skeeter Raney and Vic Griffing.

If you would like to leave any messages, please do so and if not, please feel free to read the comments that are being left by so many. YOU will understand the LOVE he had to give and the LOVE that he received.

We LOVE you Dad,

Mom loves you

Your grandkids love you.

THE MAN THE MYTH THE LEDGEND

UNTIL WE SEE YOU AGAIN

THIS WAS WRIITEN WITH COMPASSION AND LOVE FROM HIS CHILDREN

JEFF, PAM, TERRI, BRENDA AND GARY