Born in Texola, Oklahoma on October 26, 1913. Later the family moved to land near Shamrock, Texas, where they farmed and operated a grocery store. He married Mary Banks on July 3, 1932, in Shamrock They had three daughters; Roylene, Junelle, and Mable Ruth. The family lived in and around Shamrock until they moved to Houston, Texas in the 1950s. Roy died in Houston on July 22, 1988, and was buried in Shamrock.
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BANKS - BURFORD FAMILY HISTORY66Mary A. Banks was the youngest child born to D.E. and Effie, on June 4, 1914 at Snyder, Texas. She married Roy Sims on July 3, 1932. Their children are: Mary Roylene, born June 2, 1933; Junelle, born November 26, 1934; and Mabel Ruth, born February 25, 1938. They later adopted Valinda Jan, who was born on February 2, 1954.
Grandad (David Emmett) Banks lived in Snyder with Grandma and Uncle Dave Nation. Granny (Effie Burford) was born in Buffalo Gap, but the family moved to near Snyder, where Granny met Grandad when she went into Uncle Daves store to buy ribbons. Grandad was working for Uncle Dave.
Granny and Grandad got married on or about January 19, 1899. Uncle Dave set Grandad up in the leather business, but it burned down a week after the insurance lapsed.
After losing the leather shop, Grandad got a hack and sold Watkin's Products all over Scurry County. He got to know everyone and then ran for County Treasurer against Charlie Lockhat. Grandad won the county Teasurer's job and Charlie, who was crippled, was later elected State Treasurer.
He liked being county treasurer but quit to farm. A cotton crop was lost because the workers couldn't get there in time to get it in since everyone's crop was so good and they were so busy. On Thanksgiving Day a horrible sandstorm came and blew all the cotton away. Grandad lost several farms due to such bad luck.
Grandma Banks' maiden name was Nation. Her first husband, who was killed in the Civil War, was Mr. Cain. The daughters of that marriage (Alice and Laura) both married Bynums. Grandma said that one of her girls (Cain) caught on fire when she was about 6 or 7, and when she was dying a tape worm came out of her mouth.
Grandad had several double cousins; Kate Banks was one of them.
One time, when the boys were young, Granny and Grandad went to see Sybil, the oldest married daughter. They left Grandma Banks in charge of the household. When they returned, the boys wanted to be taught how to cook; their reason: they had found what they thought was a dishrag in the cornbread. "The rag" turned out to be the rag Granny left in the lard for greasing pans.