Gary C. "Sonny" Banister

Gary C. "Sonny" Banister, age 79 of Ozark, Missouri and formerly of Altus, Oklahoma, passed away at home peacefully after a brief illness on October 8th, 2016. Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at the Kincannon Memorial Chapel in Altus, OK. The Banister family will greet friends Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kincannon Funeral Home.

Sonny was born June 7, 1937 in Hobart, OK to Carrel M. and Linnie V. (Stephens) Banister. The family moved to Altus when Sonny was 3 years of age. He attended and graduated high school in 1955. Sonny was 1954 All-District lineman and also a regular on the state-finalist 1953 Altus Bulldog team. After high school, he attended Murray State College in Tishomingo, OK on a football scholarship. Wanting to be home with family and friends, he returned to Altus. He joined the National Guard and worked in private business until at the young age of 21, he began a long career in law enforcement. His career began with the Altus Police Department in March 1959, working there until January 1961. He then became a deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in February 1961 until October 1966. In November 1966, he returned to the Altus Police Department remaining there until retiring as a Captain in November 1981. After a brief break away, working in private business, he returned to law enforcement with the District Attorney’s Office of the 3rd District. He served as Investigator for the Child Support Division and then Investigator for the District Attorney from May 1983 until retiring in December 1999.

Sonny was truly a unique person in so many ways. His family was first and foremost. He had a passion for law enforcement that never ended, even in retirement. He considered them all family. Sonny treated everyone with the respect that they deserved. He went out of his way to try to help make bad situations to be as good as they could be. Many people thought of Sonny as being a hard, tough man, but those who knew him well, knew that he really had a big soft heart. He had a soft heart for anyone in any kind of unfortunate situation. He loved all animals, especially his precious dogs. Sonny loved to fish but always released them “to let them grow bigger”. He loved his family very, very deeply. Where and when he was needed he was there, in good times and bad. He would provide whatever assistance was needed to support his family. Sonny loved to laugh and start every day with a smile. Sonny was the rock of the family and will be missed extremely.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bobby Banister and Junior Banister; three sisters, Lois Aduddell, Jo Anne Ladd and Joyce Banister; and three brothers-in-law, John W. Winters, James Ladd and Tim Shotts. Sonny is survived by his wife, Debbie, of the home; two sons, Gary Banister and wife, Kim, of Flower Mound, Texas and Scott Shotts and wife, Crystal, of Springfield, Missouri; three grandchildren, Landon Banister and wife, Amanda, Marcy Banister and Ella Shotts; one sister, Nadine Winters of Lawton, Oklahoma.; one brother-in-law, Don Shotts and wife, Trina, of Binger, Oklahoma.; two sisters-in-law, Linda Shotts of Hollis, Oklahoma and Kriste Smith of Pittsboro, North Carolina; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved very much.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Altus Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #120, 509 S. Main, Altus, OK 73521 or Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc, P. O. Box 553, Orem, UT 84659.

Additional parking for the service is available behind the funeral home, Days Inn to the South and Western Sizzlin' to the North. Family and friends unable to attend may log on to kincannonfuneralhome.com, 30 minutes prior to the service, to view the live webcast of the funeral.
Online tributes may be made at kincannonfuneralhome.com