Monta Ray Wilbanks

Monta Ray Wilbanks was born on May 28, 1933 in Blanchard, Oklahoma. He was the son of Johnnie Pascal and Mattie Lorene (Little) Wilbanks.  Ray was raised in Blanchard and attended school there, graduating from Blanchard High School in 1950.  While in high school, Ray was a member of the Blanchard Lions football team.   Shortly after graduation from high school, Ray enrolled in Oklahoma A&M where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.  Upon completion of his education, Ray worked for the Oklahoma State Agriculture Department for a couple of years.   In 1956, Ray began a long career working in the oil fields.  He started working on rigs and pulling units and progressed to owning and operating his own oil production company.  For a short time he operated a Western Auto store in Rifle, Colorado while still remaining active in the oil business.  He owned and operated leases and drilling operations throughout Colorado and Kansas over the next twenty to thirty years.   Ray was baptized while in high school at the Freewill Baptist Church in Blanchard.  He was a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Free and Accepted Masons; serving as a 32nd Degree Mason.  Ray was described by his family as a dedicated, hard working and persistent man who could be a tad hard headed; however, he loved lots of people and was always ready to help anyone in need.  He was very generous.   For many years he mentored and served as a father figure to Nichole whose mother, Eileen Rhodes was his companion.  Ray loved Nichole very much and considered her as a daughter.  He also had a terrier named Dakota that was his side kick who stayed by his side constantly.  He truly loved that dog and considered him, "My little boy."   Upon his retirement, Ray moved to Cleveland in 2004 locating close to his brother, Wayne and his family.  He was a longtime member of Alcoholics Anonymous; attending meeting in Mannford and Cleveland.  He recently celebrated nearly forty-two years of sobriety.             Ray passed from this life on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of eighty-two.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Mattie Wilbanks; and a brother, Fletcher Wilbanks. He is survived by two sons, Randall Wilbanks of Orlando, Florida and Duane Wilbanks of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; two brothers, Wayne and his wife Jane Wilbanks of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Bronell Wilbanks of Edmond, Oklahoma; a sister, Carolyn Babb of Henderson, Nevada; and his side kick, Dakota.   A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday at the First Baptist Church with Rev. Greg Hall officiating.  Cremation was entrusted to the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.