Edna Myrtle Banks

The following biography of Edna Myrtle Hackett Banks was written by her sister, May H. Marsh upon Edna's passing. The story is taken from family documents.

"A valiant struggle between life and death ended early Monday morning, December 5, 1955, when the spirit of Edna Myrtle Hackett Banks left her earthly tabernacle.

Once so full of life and vigor, her undefiled body became weakened by the ills of life until the last spark of her vitality went out.

Blessed, indeed, was the home of Christopher Charles and Margaret Elsie Booth Hackett when on November 7, 1882, Edna, their first child, was born to them in Alpine, Utah, a quiet little village lying peacefully at the foot of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.

Few months had passed before they realized that an exceptionally brilliant and very choice daughter had been entrusted into their care. Her father was of English and Irish descent and his conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ led him to Utah and to Alpine in his early manhood. He was the master of several trades and was valuable in the various communities where he chose to make his home.

Her mother, born in Alpine, inherited from her forebears an unselfish nature and this good couple gave long years of service to the church, their family and their friends.

When Edna was nearing her second birthday her parents moved to Wellsville, Cache County, Utah, and after a stay of 4 1/2 years there, a year and a half in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and in 2 years in Provo they returned to Alpine.

Although so young in years, Edna retained throughout her life, vivid memories of her childhood days spent in these localities. She possessed a keen mind and the interest she exhibited in education when but a child never wavered for she took advantage of every opportunity to add to her store of knowledge.

Her school days began in Rock Springs, Wyoming, and were continued in Provo and Alpine.

In 1897 she was the only pupil in the 8th grade in Alpine and to compensate the principal for the extra grade he made for her, she assisted him in teaching the younger pupils, thus giving her much practical experience. She finished the course of study prescribed for the 8th grade in March and in due time passed successfully the County examination.

When her school work was finished in March, she went to live in the home of Professor David R. Allen in Salt Lake City, and the following summer she was invited to accompany the family on a trip to Yellowstone Park. She was 15 years old, had never been out of the state except as a small child in Rock Springs, and it was a wonderful opportunity; so she gladly accepted.

They traveled by team and light wagon over poor and sometimes dangerous roads and three months were spent enjoying new scenery and the beauty and wonders of the park.

When she returned she could interest her younger brothers and sisters by the hour with her stories and they wondered if the chance would ever come to them to go that far away from home.

Edna had an ardent desire to continue her education and in the fall of 1898, she entered the Brigham Young Academy in Provo, doing work for her board and room at the home of her uncle, John E. Booth. She was six weeks late entering school but before the close of the school year, she had made up all the back work and finished with high grades. For lack of funds she gave up her school work for the next year and a half and was employed as clerk in the Alpine Co-op Store.

Following the Christmas Holidays in 1901, she enrolled for the second semester at Brigham Young Academy. During that year the college building was completed, and Edna was chosen to represent the class of 1904 in an address on "The Appreciation To Parents On Entrance To The College."

During the summer she passed the County Teacher's Examination and obtained a school in Alpine where she taught for three years. Other summers were spent attending the Brigham Young University, and during her teaching years she was taking subjects that would add to her teaching ability. When school began in 1904, she had accepted a position in Lehi and for four years she taught in the Central School Building.

For several years she did some substitute teaching in Lehi and American Fork, and during World War I, in 1919, she was Principal of the Franklin Building in Lehi and taught 3rd and 4th grades.

Some of her most happy experiences came, and lasting friendships were formed during her school days. It was while teaching in Lehi that she met Junius Banks, who was her life's companion. From their first meeting, Edna had great admiration for Junius. He was a young man of clean habits, and was interested in education and religion as was she. After a pleasant courtship, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple June 3, 1908.

Their first home was in Lehi where Merril was born. When he was a year old they moved to Pleasant Grove, a year later to Burlington, Iowa, and subsequently to Provo, where their second child, Helen, was born.

In July 1913, the family moved to Lehi where they have since resided and where their other three children were born.

The Banks home has been known for its friendliness and hospitality. Relatives, friends and even strangers have received a welcome at their door and no matter what the time of day, they scarcely left without being served a good meal and given something to take home with them.

Junius and Edna have been willing to work for all they possessed in life, and their storehouse has never been empty. Their yard, with it's array of beautiful flowers, has been enjoyed by their friends and admired by those who chanced to pass by. The soil in their vegetable garden seemed to yield so abundantly that people have stood in amazement at the prolific growth.

It required many hours of work, yet they enjoyed doing it and their real happiness came when they could share so generously with their friends and neighbors these lovely products of the soil.

In all their activities it can safely be said t6hat their responsibilities in the church have been given first consideration. Their personal affairs could be put aside. Together they have set their children examples worthy for them to follow and their desire has been to inspire them to live lives that will entitle them to the blessings of eternal life.

Of all the fine qualities Edna possessed perhaps the most outstanding one would be her absolute unselfishness. As a young girl at home in a large family this trait of character was ever in evidence. No matter what she had or did she wanted to share it with others.

While teaching school in Alpine, her father, in his 56th year, was called to fill a mission in the Northern States. Leaving a large family with a very limited income, Edna worked through the summers, picking berries, and gave her school checks to support her father missionary.

Her long line of church activities began at an early age, and continued throughout her entire life. As a young girl in Alpine, she was called to be the teacher of her own class in Sunday School, a group of young folks. Later she taught other classes in various wards where she lived, and served on the Alpine Stake Sunday School Board. In religion Class she was a teacher and a Stake Board member.

She served in the Ward Mutual Improvement Association as President, Counselor, secretary, and was teacher of various classes. She was also a member of the Alpine Stake Board and was in charge of the Bee Hive work for the first year it was instituted. The many hours she has devoted to Relief Society work could hardly be estimated. In the First Ward in Lehi, she has filled the positions of visiting teacher, Secretary, and Theology class leader. And in the Lehi Stake she was in charge of the Theology Department. To all these positions she gave full measure of devotion and was true to every trust. She will have no account to give of wasted time for she was never idle. She constantly reached out to the truer and fuller life and the misfortunes of others touched her so that she was ready to give aid wherever it was needed.

Edna possessed the traits of character that make a real woman. Any trace of sham or show had no place in her life and whenever or wherever we met her, she was her real self. As daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend, she played the part.

She was a woman of many talents. She was apt at dressmaking and practically all kinds of needle work -- she could paint a scene or draw free hand her own designs, and in numerous homes today can be found articles created by her dexterous hands.

From Grandmother Booth she must have inherited the gift of writing. Her prose was well worded, her rhymes and verses of which she must have written hundreds, some serious, others in lighter mood, but each written for a special occasion, always delighted her listeners and through her writings of poetry she revealed the depth and quality of her soul.

While this good couple has enjoyed more than 47 years of happiness together, their years have not been without their share of sorrow. When Helen was just two years old the family was in the process of moving from Provo to Lehi. As they neared Pleasant Grove the little child became violently ill and was taken to the home of Grandfather Banks. She lived only a few more days and was buried in the cemetery at Pleasant Grove.

Merril, at the same time, was very near death, but was permitted to remain with them a few more years. When he was 18 years of age, he received and accepted a call to the German-Austrian Mission. It was there in Germany during the severe winter of 1928-29 that he contracted a serious illness. He recovered sufficiently to return home with an honorable release. He desired so much to complete his college education but before this desire was granted he passed away March 5, 1931, at the age of 21 years. Merril was a perfect type of splendid manhood and those of us who knew him can understand in part. the loss his loved ones felt when he was taken. Of him his mother wrote these lines:

At first 'twas hard to understand Why one so promising, so bright, So full of hope, and love, and light, So Zealous for the cause of right Should be called to that foreign strand.

At last I've come to understand That God has need of much as he To make of Heaven what it should be. I've learned to know the destiny Of all is guided by His hand.

To Helen, she wrote:

         "To My Rosebud"

My tiny bud whose loveliness is sealed Within those closely folded petals there, Although your dainty fragrance scents the air Your charm and beauty have not been revealed.

My full blown rose of perfect form and hue With all your future loveliness complete, Nipped in the bud lies withered at my feet, And all is gone except the dream of you.

Edna and Junius, with their family, have had many enjoyable trips which took them into many of the States -- East, West, North and South, and when Wallace was released from his mission they met him in Toronto, Canada. On two of their trips to visit Earl and family in New Mexico, they met with accidents and in each one, Edna was seriously injured. Since August, 1946, she has never been free from pain. Her last illness was not known to be serious until the last few days, and when the end came, she simply went to sleep. We feel that the Lord was kind in sparing her further suffering. Her mission here must have been completed for she expressed her willingness to go.

While she leaves a vacancy that5 never can be filled, her loved ones can have no regrets. During the many times she has been unable to care for herself, she has received from her husband and family every consideration. The best medical help has been given her and time and money have been unlimited.

At various times when she needed to remain in bed she has been taken into the home of her daughter, Margaret, and given all the loving care that was possible for a daughter and son-in-law to give. As for her dear husband, his reward will be great. Patient, sympathetic, understanding, he has been at her bedside at home to attend to her every need and all done willingly without the least complaint. Though Edna often felt that she was a care, she never failed to express appreciation for all the kindness shown her by her loved ones, neighbors and friends.

Her mission completed, she goes to a well earned reward. May the sorrow her loved ones feel at this parting be lightened by the memory of the years of happiness they spent together. And may they trust in God through the years that intervene until they can be reunited and as a family unit all work together throughout eternity.

Surviving besides her husband are three children,

Wallace Banks, of Lehi Earl Banks, of Albuquerque, New Mexico Mrs. Myron H. (Margaret) Burgess, Salt Lake City;

twelve grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters:

Charles C. Hackett, Montrose, California Rulon W. Hackett, Sun Valley, California Allen B. Hackett, and Mrs. Joseph F. (May) Marsh, both of Salt Lake City, Mrs. Wm. S. (Ora) Glass, Oakland, California Mrs. Wm. D. (Margaret) Griffith, and Joseph E. Hackett, both of Portland, Oregon."