James William (Jim) Banister, the son of Orval W. and Ruth (Bauer) Banister, was born March 31, 1939 in Kansas City, Kansas. Jim attended Olathe High School, Olathe, Kansas. On January 21, 1957, Jim entered the United States Marines Corps where he served his country, receiving his honorable discharge on October 10, 1958.

On October 31, 1959, Jim was united in marriage to Sharon Schibi at Christ The King Catholic Church. They made their home in Kansas City, Kansas and became the parents of four children, Julie, Scott, Sandy, and Chad.

Jim was employed for his father, Orval Banister Construction, building new homes. Later, he was employed by J.E. Dunn and Haren Laughlin in commercial construction. While working full time, Jim began taking night classes, initially at Donnelly College, Kansas City, Kansas, then Rockhurst University, and lastly University of Missouri Kansas City earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Master’s Degrees in Guidance/Counseling and Psychology.

In the early 1980s, Jim began teaching Business at Savior of The World Catholic Seminary. Later, he was employed by Piper High School, Piper, Kansas, where he taught Typing/Computers, and was a golf coach and wrestling and baseball assistant coach, retiring in 2002. Following retirement, Jim moved to the family farm in Rock Port, Missouri briefly returning to his Kansas City home before living his final years back at the family farm.

Jim was a member of the Holy Angels Catholic Church, Basehor, Kansas, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Tarkio, Missouri, and Carpenters Local #61. He also was former Rock Port Chamber of Commerce President. Jim was an avid reader, a gifted writer and was published in numerous newspapers and magazines. One article was published in the Smithsonian. Jim passed away Sunday, December 6, 2020, at Community Hospital-Fairfax, Fairfax, Missouri, at the age of 81.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include wife, Sharon Banister, Rock Port; children, Julie (Michael) Thorne, Leavenworth, Kansas, Scott (Vickie) Banister, Kansas City, Kansas, Sandy (Ron) Riniker, Rock Port, and Chad (Shawn) Banister, Tonganoxie, Kansas; 12 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; siblings, Judy, Karen, Anna, Les, Lori, and Nancy; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held in spring 2021.

A Private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Memorials: James Banister Memorial Fund

Arrangements: Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com