HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Kenneth Andrew Banks born

August 24, 1917 Ferndale, WA

 Here is my dad. This was taken in 1918. Love the dear old buggy and that fat cheeked baby boy!

 Here he is around three with a playmate.

 With his mother around seven years old. I remember in the 70's my kids wore Seafarer jeans with the wide legs like this and don't you live dad's hat?

Aren't grandma's shoes cute?

 He is around ten in this photo with some friends apparently going swimming or maybe running through a sprinkler.

 This picture always tickles me because he is making a face. This was taken around 1938 when he was about 21 years old. He is with mother in this picture. The little boy in back is cousin Clyde.

Still in his 20's here. Love the hat. He liked it too. 

 This is how I remember dad. He loved fishing and was excellent at it. He fished rivers mostly. The Nooksack, Samish and Skagit rivers were fairly close by and gas was twenty five cents a gallon. See my little sister and me way in the background? He is about 35 here.

 Here he is about the same age with his mother Lucy. My cousin Phyllis's little boy Ronny is on the floor. Christmases with our Banks family were wonderful and I cherish the memories. See grandma's petticoat is showing. She wouldn't like that but I think it's cute.

 Another favorite picture of dad when he was about 36. That is a 62 pound salmon he caught in the Skagit river. I well remember that day. As we drove up to the river we looked down and saw a huge salmon rolling in a backwash area. There were several fishermen fishing there but when dad saw that salmon roll he said, "that one's mine" and he hurried to the water rigging his rod on the way and cast directly into the spot the salmon had rolled The huge fish took his bait and the fight was on. It took a long time for him to land it but here's proof that he did. I was positive my dad was the best fisherman in the world.

 Dad is 50 here with mom at my sister's wedding. Dad didn't like dressing up. He usually wore jeans and plaid shirts, flannel in the winter and cotton in the summer so seeing him in a suit was very unusual. He looked nice but I think he was uncomfortable and couldn't wait to get home, change clothes and get a cup of coffee with sugar and cream.

Again at age 50

Dad died from a heart attack about three and a half years after this picture was taken at age 54. I was 35.  He believed in the Lord so I'm sure he is with Him in paradise now. Mom joined them in 2001.

Someday there's going to be one heck of a reunion going on up there!!!

Thank you dad for all the days you worked so we would have food and clothes and a place to live. Thank you for the wonderful Christmases and the sweet gifts.

Thank you for the surprises and for teaching me how to fish and keep the hook in the cork handle.

Thank you for laughing with me and not at me when I goofed.

Thank you for caring for me even when I was a brat.

I miss you

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