Mary Banks Obituary

Mary Beth Banks was born in Cortez, CO to Billy and Norma Wark on January 12, 1950. She passed away on May 2, 2018 in Mesa County, CO.

She attended Cortez schools where she grew up being a tomboy playing softball, basketball and became interested in gymnastics. While in seventh grade, gymnastics came into the local school and she quickly demonstrated a natural talent in Floor Exercise, Balance, Beam, Uneven Bars and Trampoline. Beth went on to hold Regional and State titles in Colorado.

Beth married Sam Sparks of Cortez in 1966 and they had two children, Lisa and Frank. They later divorced and in 1980 Beth married Bob Banks. Unfortunately, Bob passed away in an auto accident in 1995.

Beth had always been a person who loved the outdoors. She was a good hunter, fisherwoman and camper harvesting her first bull elk with a 50 caliber Muzzle Loader rifle. She enjoyed horses, riding, packing, and outfitting; her campfire cooking skills were enjoyed by many family, friends and fellow hunters.

Beth trained to become an Emergency Medial Technician enrolling in classes in 1981. Over the next 15 years she worked the Emergency Room at SW Memorial Hospital in Cortez. Besides the ER, her duties included ambulance and emergency response. She was the first female firefighter with the Lewis Arriola Volunteer Fire Department. She spent most of her working life helping others in need.

After Bob passed away, she decided to build a small mountain cabin above Groundhog Reservoir. The cabin would be her home on the mountain. She gardened and lived in a tent during the summer as work on the cabin progressed. Beth was the first person to spend a long Colorado winter on the mountain. She spent the first two winters at the cabin and had plans to stay again this coming winter.

She met Dave Swanson in 2000. Together they finished the cabin continuing with the "old fashion" feel and look of a mountain log home.

Besides the outdoors, Beth loved to cook. She always had something baked up for friends and neighbors who dropped by and would drop an extra potato in the pot if company arrived. Her salad garden was well known for its quality and she was generous with the bounty.

She was proud of her home, kept it clean and always decorated especially during the holidays. Family and friends were her greatest joy and she never met a stranger. All were welcome in her home and kitchen.

She is survived by her children Lisa Passell (Tim) of Cortez CO and Frank Sparks (Janine) of Fruita, CO; grandchildren Ryan Greene (Zoey) of Tucson, AZ, Lindsey Clark (Nick) of Oceanside, CA, Katie Sparks of Fruita, CO and Ricky Greene (Denise) of Oklahoma City, OK; brother Chuck Wark (Shauna) of Dolores CO and sisters Sue Patterson of Cortez, CO and Joyce Curlew (Bob) of Naples, FL; one great-grandson Struther Greene; her beloved Groundhog friends and numerous other family and friends.

As per Beth's wishes, no public services will be held.