Obituaries

John Gordon Banks

Photo of John Gordon Banks
John Gordon Banks was born on Oct. 26, 1942. He was raised in Harrison, attended Harrison High School, and graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he was a Razorback cheerleader and member of Sigma Chi fraternity. After college, John moved to Louisiana where he discovered his true lifetime passion-antiques. He returned to Arkansas to work with his father at the J. R. Banks Lumber Company in Marble. John has been described by many as the best antique dealer in Arkansas and testament to this was creation of Riverside Antiques and later Famous Hardware Antique Mall in Springdale. John was a member of the Arkansas Antiques Dealer Association, the Washington County Historical Society, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church. John welcomed everyone with a warm smile and will be remembered for his quick wit, timeless humor and contagious laugh. True to the old cliché, John never met a stranger he didn't like, and he always enjoyed visiting with old and new friends at Famous Hardware, antique shows or his reserved table at the Grill on Dickson Street. His love of collecting and keen eye for treasure hunting fulfilled his whole life, and so many people started collecting antiques because of John. As John always stated, "One is good, two is better and three is a collection!" John is preceded in death by his parents, Cleone Nelson and John Russell Banks of Harrison. He is survived by his brother, David Russell Banks and wife Rosamond; niece Melissa Banks and husband Bill Jones; nephew Michael Banks and wife Jamie, all of Fayetteville; niece Billie Banks of Laguna Beach, Calif.; three great-nieces and one great-nephew, and his close friend and companion, Jay C. Graffis of Springfield, Mo. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Monday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. A private family burial will follow in Harrison. In lieu of flowers memorials contributions may be made to the Washington County Historical Society (118 East Dickson St., Fayetteville, Ark. 72701) or to Washington Regional Hospice (34 Colt Square, Fayetteville, Ark. 72703) To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published November 7, 2010

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