Marie Eileen Bankson

Marie Eileen Bankson passed away Thursday January 13, 2022 in the Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center's Emergency Room after a fall in her home in La Veta. She was 97 years old.
Eileen was born Marie Eileen Sanchez in Walsenburg, Colorado on November 30, 1924 the first of four daughters and one son to Lucas and Julia (Ward) Sanchez. Music integrated into her life at an early age as she began learning piano at five years old and was later playing for church and school events. After graduating from Walsenburg High School, she married Walter J. Padilla moving to La Veta. Together they had one daughter Laura and one son Walter "Buck". Eileen was a stay-at-home mother, housekeeper, church organist and piano teacher, teaching many students in the area for many years. After her 42-year marriage to Walter ended, she married a church friend Ralph Bankson. When she retired from teaching, she started researching her family's genealogy, and also gave her time and service to the Fort Francisco Museum. Finding a black shawl in museum storage, she dreamed of writing a book surrounding its history with some famous, historical characters of the area. Unfortunately, the book's material remained in her head and not on paper.
In her almost century old life, Eileen witnessed the passing of her parents, aunts and uncles, two sisters (Selma and Delphine), one nephew (Rex), both husbands, and almost all of her adult friends. She is survived by her children, their spouses (Bert Ward and Vallie Padilla respectively), five grandchildren, one great grandchild and one sister (Lou Ellen Stecklein) with her family.
There will be simple graveside service with her ashes at the La Veta Cemetery tomorrow, Friday January 21 at 12:00 p.m., followed by an informal reception to gather, reminisce and catchup at her house located at 237 W. Francisco St. in La Veta. Anyone wishing to be part of this time to honor Eileen is invited. Arrangements made by Boies-Ortega Funeral Home.