Grace Irene Bannister

July 2, 1914-Aug. 24, 2010

HAIGLER, Nebraska -- Grace I. Bannister, 96, died Tuesday (Aug. 24, 2010) at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colorado.

She was born July 2, 1914 to Marshall and Fanny (France) Lewis on their family homestead east of Bladen, Nebraska. After graduating from Bladen High School she took a job teaching country school in western Hayes County. There she met and married Robert Bannister on Feb. 2, 1935 in McCook.

The couple lived with his parents in a small house on a farm east of Hayes Center. The family then moved to a farm near the Kansas-Colorado border. In 1948, the couple bought a farm near Haigler.

In 1940, she gave birth to the couple's only child, Richard, at the Lewis homestead.

In 1946, she went back to teaching where she taught in country schools in Cheyenne County, Kansas and in Haigler. She earned her bachelor's of science in education while teaching.

After the passing of her husband in 1976, and retirement in 1977, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona. There she met Canadian Henry Peterson, who became a companion, and the two would live in Canada for half the year and Arizona the other half.

In the 90s, she moved back to Haigler and lived alone until the early 2000s when she moved into the Towers in Wray.

She was a member of the Haigler Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Louise Lewis; brothers, Arthur, Vaughn, and Eldon and their spouses; sisters, Dorothy and spouses, and Jane; brothers-in-law, Albert Sidlo, Marion Bannister and wife, and Terrance Bannister; sisters-in-law, Wilma, Marie, Clara, and Melissa and their spouses.

She is survived by her son, Richard and wife, Marilyn of Haigler; sister, Wanda of Hastings, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Lee Bannister of Kansas; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services were today at the United Methodist Church in Haigler, Nebraska with the Rev. Carole Coates officiating. Interment followed services at the Haigler Cemetery.

There was no formal visitation. The casket was open at the church.

A memorial has been established in her name.

Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman is in charge of the arrangements.