Carlie E. Banks, 72, of Plano, died July 12, 2018, in Dallas, TX. Born in the Naval Operations Base Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 13, 1946, she was the daughter of William A. Onion and Margaret (Kent) Onion. Her native Vermonter parents returned to the state in early 1947, locating in West Central Vermont where Carlie grew up.
Carlie was a 1963 summer exchange student in Norway. In 1964 she graduated as valedictorian of her class at Rutland High School. She was the first female to represent the State of Vermont when President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Presidential Scholars Program honoring one female and one male high school senior from each state with receptions at the White House. In 1968 Carlie received her BA in geology magna cum laude from Smith College in Northampton, MA, and was elected Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. In 1970 she received her MA in geology from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY.
Carlie married Stephen C. Banks on August 16, 1969, and spent her career as an exploration geologist for Sun Oil Co. and ARCO. She rang handbells in First Presbyterian Church of Plano for 42 years and played horn in the Plano Community Band for 35 years.
She is survived by her brothers Daniel K. Onion and Matthew W. Onion; sons, William E. Banks and Thomas I. Banks; her husband Stephen C. Banks; and two grandchildren, Alexandra H. Banks and Nicolas M. Banks.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Stella Cemetery, Stella, Nebraska
A memorial service was held Friday, July 20, 2018, at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Plano (15thand Jupiter), with the Rev. Wendy Kolakowski, interim pastor, officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to: The Stella Community Church, Stella, NE, 68442; The Plano Community Band, P.O. Box 864441, Plano, TX, 75086-4441; or, The Music Fund, First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 861480, Plano, TX, 75086.
