Lawrence “Larry” Joseph Bankey, age 66, of Hale, Missouri, passed away on February 27th, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.
Larry was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 3, 1958, to Eugene and Esther (Roediger) Bankey. He graduated from Henderson High School in Westchester, Pennsylvania in 1976. After graduation, Larry served in the United States Air Force from 1977 to 1979. He was stationed in Wichita, Kansas and worked on Titan missiles. On August 31, 1979, he was united in marriage to Joni Powers. Over the years, he enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, playing guitar, gardening, and cooking. He loved doing all these things with Joni, their children, and grandchildren. Larry was a member of Cornerstone Church in Chillicothe and enjoyed playing and writing worship music. Larry and Joni enjoyed spending their summers fishing and camping at 3B’s Campground at Lake Rathbun, Iowa.
Larry was a senior field service technician for electronic equipment. He retired from Liva Nova in September 2024.
He is survived by his wife, Joni, Hale; children, Steven (Kelsey) Bankey, Kansas City, and Jennifer (Dennis) Stephens, Chillicothe; Grandchildren, Tyler Stephens, Chillicothe, Kamryn Stephens, Chillicothe, and Easton Bankey, Kansas City; sisters, Sue Yoder, Atglen, PA, and Sandy (Tony) Luciano, Rising Sun, MD; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members; and his beloved goldendoodle, Lucy.
Preceding him in death were his daughter, Kimberly; his parents; father-in-law, John Powers; mother-in-law, Julia (Lane) Powers.
A celebration of life will be held March 29, 2025, at the Veteran’s Center in Chillicothe, Missouri. Visitation will begin at 10 am and military service starts at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established by the family in support of the Chillicothe Youth Golf Program. Donations may be made payable to GCI and sent to Green Hills Golf Course, 500 W Mohawk Rd, Chillicothe, MO 64601 for the Larry Bankey Memorial Jr Golf Program.
