Earlene Elizabeth Harris Wilbanks, Age 84 years, 7 months and 24 days, of Jackson, TN passed away on Sunday, November 28, 2021 at her home in Jackson, TN surrounded by loved ones.
She was born in Catoosa, OK on April 4, 1937 and was raised on top of a mountain in Spokane, WA. She graduated Otis Orchards High School in 1955.
After graduation she left home first headed to Oklahoma to stay with her cousin. They moved on to Dallas, TX where she met the love of her life, Fred Wilbanks. They were married on April 20, 1957 and eventually settled in West Tennessee. Earlene was a stay at home Mom and raised four children then went to school and obtained her LPN license. She worked as an orthopedic nurse and retired from Jackson Madison County General Hospital. After retirement she worked part time for The Jackson Clinic Convenient Care. She loved nursing and several years later we still ran into former patients that recognized her and bragged about the care she provided.
Earlene was preceded in death by her husband Fred Wilbanks, her oldest son Ronnie Wilbanks, her oldest daughter Rhonda Gurnsey, her daughter-in-law Shelia Wilbanks, her parents Joe and Hallah Harris, sister Pauline Kinne, brothers Joe, Floyd and Ralph Harris.
She is survived by her son, Randy Wilbanks, daughter and son-in-law Mona and Glenn McNatt, daughter-in-law Janet Wilbanks, son-in-law Ed Gurnsey, grandchildren: Leslie (John) Ford, Judd (Jeni) Wilbanks, Carrie (Trey) Asbridge, Christina Gurnsey, Amy (Nick) Delmonico, Joey Wilbanks, Kaitlyn (Andrew) Harton, Stephanie (Steven) Bratton, Morgan (Zach) Hilliard and 12 Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters Georgia Schrempp, Marilyn (Jim) Lunneburg, Cindy Goodwin and several close cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ms. Earlene (as most people called her) will be remembered for her kind heart, generous ways, cards that she sent, her love of quilting and her strawberry jam. She was a little woman who has left a big hole in all of our hearts.
A memorial service for Ms. Earlene will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Lester’s Chapel United Methodist Church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GASmithandSonsFuneralHome.com for the Wilbanks family.
