Pietro Banyansco

Captain Pete Banyansco, who would have reached his eighty-fifth year December 8, 1936, passed away at his home here Tuesday after a long illness caused by heart infection. He came here from his native land, Italy, when a boy and in course of time married and settled in Matagorda where he and his wife, Mrs. Carrie Banyansco have resided ever since.

Of this union there were eight children surviving him. Captain Pete was a fine old gentleman, had many friends here as he was an upright, honest, toiling man. When he was in affluence, he spent many a dollar in the business houses here and never failed to pay a debt, there by he won the respect of all in all stations of life.

He was a life-long member of the Catholic belief and the remains were taken to the Episcopal Church where Rev. Paul Engle officiating and from where a long procession followed to the Matagorda cemetery. After all was over the grave was covered with lovely flowers and evergreen.

Matagorda County Tribune?, August 27, 1936

Carrie Banyansco

Mrs. Banyansco Of Matagorda Dies in San Antonio

Mrs. Carrie Banyansco, 85, a resident of Matagorda, died in San Antonio July 10. Funeral services will be held today at 4:00 p. m. at the Methodist Church in Matagorda with Rev. Geo. E. Olson officiting.

The deceased is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Katy Hix, Palacios; Mrs. Mary Ryman, Wadsworth; Mrs. Roma Savage, Matagorda; Mrs. November Jaynes, Wharton. Also surviving are four sons, Ned, Pete, Tureno [Torino], Phillip Banyansco, all of Matagorda.

Pallbearers are Jimbo Williams, Doug Havard, H. M. Gottschalk, Steve Parsutt, I. Baxter, Rugeley R. Serrill.

Daily Tribune, July 11, 1958

Children
 

Ned Banyansco

Katie Banyansco Zaro Hicks
January 28, 1906 - January 19, 1994

Katie Hicks

Funeral services for Mrs. Katie Hicks, 87, of Palacios, were held Jan. 22, 1994 at the Palacios Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ron Lynn officiating. Interment was in Palacios Cemetery.

Mrs. Hicks was born Jan. 28, 1905 in Matagorda, Tx. She died Jan. 19, 1994 at Wagner General Hospital in Palacios.

She was a homemaker and a lifelong resident of Matagorda County.

Mrs. Hicks is survived by two daughters, Mary Jane Wells and Dorothy Lee Walls, both of Palacios; a son, Jesse Zaro of Galveston; two sisters, Roma Savage of Bay City and November Jaynes of Wharton; two brothers, Turino and Phillip Banyansco of Matagorda; seven grandchildren; and numerous great grandson, nieces and nephews.

Palacios Beacon, January 26, 1994

Joe Zaro
September 20, 1880 - January 27, 1937

John Elmer Hicks

Funeral services for John Elmer Hicks were held Wednesday, July 3, at 10 a. m. at the Palacios Funeral Home with Rev. Rayford Harris officiating. Interment was in the Palacios Cemetery.

A native of Matagorda County, he was born August 27, 1897, at Ashby, a son of John S. and Beulah Smith Hicks. He died July 1 at Wagner General Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Katie Hicks of Palacios; one son, Floyd Hicks of Port Lavaca; four sisters Mollie McCoy and Grace Stapleton of Palacios, Pearl Miller of Houston and Adelaide Chupe of Rockport; one brother, George Hicks of Fort Worth; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Palacios Beacon, July 3, 1968
 

Mary Banyansco Mahavier Ryman
January 1, 1908 - July 1, 1959

Photo courtesy of G. W. Franzen

Albert Henry Mahavier
Funeral Services Held Wednesday For Texas Pioneer

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning for Albert Henry Mahavier, 84-year-old pioneer, who died at the Newgulf hospital Tuesday morning. Mr. Mahavier had been a life-long resident of Matagorda. Burial was in the Matagorda Cemetery under the direction of Taylor Brothers.

The Herald, Bay City, Texas, March 6, 1941

Photo courtesy of G. W. Franzen
 

Our Beloved Aunt, Roma Banyansco Savage, age 95 of Wharton died Monday night, October 16, 2006 in Wharton following an extended illness.

She was born on February 22, 1911 in Matagorda, Texas the daughter of the late Pietro Banyansco and Carrie Clay Banyansco.

Mrs. Savage was a resident of Wharton since 2001. She was raised and lived most of her life in Matagorda before moving to Bay City. She was married to Norman D. Savage and he preceded her in death in 1968. She was a homemaker and was Methodist by Faith. Besides her parents she was also preceded in death by two sisters and four brothers.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, October 20, 2006 at the chapel of the Wharton Funeral Home with the Rev. Don Storey officiating. Graveside services followed at the Matagorda Cemetery in Matagorda.

Survivors include a sister, November Jaynes of Wharton; five nieces and two nephews.

Pallbearers were Bernard Orsak, Sr., Bernard Orsak, Jr., Matthew Kiel, Edmond Lorts, Bobby Jaynes, Jr. and Bill Kiel.

In lieu of usual remembrances the family requests memorials to the First United Methodist Church in Matagorda, Texas 77457.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Wharton Funeral Home.

Bay City Tribune, October 22, 2006                                                                  Norman Dreyling Savage

Peter Banyansco
1913 - April 5, 1971

Turino Banyansco
January 20, 1917 - June 6, 2006

Turino Banyansco, age 89, of Matagorda, died Tuesday, June 6, 2006, in Wharton following an extended illness.

He was born on January 20, 1917, in Matagorda, son of the late Pietro Banyansco and Carrie Clay Banyansco.

Mr. Banyansco was a lifelong resident of Matagorda. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Matagorda.

Mr. Banyansco was employed as a tug boat deck hand until his retirement.

He loved gardening, especially growing grapefruit and oranges, and he loved to visit with friends, whether they were old friends or people he just met.

Funeral services were held at 10 a. m. Thursday, June 8, 2006, at the chapel of Wharton Funeral Home, with the Rev. Don Storey officiating.

Interment followed in the Matagorda Cemetery in Matagorda, Texas.

Survivors include: his sisters, Roma Savage and November Jaynes, both of Wharton; nieces and nephews, Mary Ann Kiel of Richmond, Cynthia Orsak of Wharton, Bobby Jaynes Jr. of Kemah, Margie Morris of College Station, Mary Jane Walls and Dorothy Walls, both of Palacios, and Jessie Zaro of Galveston.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by: sisters, Mary Mahavier Ryman and Katie Hicks; brothers, Phillip Banyansco, Pete Banyansco and Ned Banyansco.

If desiring, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Matagorda, Texas 77457.

Bay City Tribune, June 11, 2006

Phillip Banyansco, 84, of Matagorda, passed away Sunday March 28, 2004 in a Wharton nursing facility.

He was born at home October 10, 1919 in Matagorda, the son of the late Pietro Banyansco and Carrie Clay Banyansco.

Mr. Banyansco was a lifelong resident of Matagorda and a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was employed as a deck hand on the Intracoastal Canal, and later he was a self-employed carpenter and landscaper.

He was a resident at the Avalon nursing facility in Wharton since last year. While at Avalon, Phillip had enjoyed making many new friends. He also enjoyed playing dominoes and had a wonderful time playing dominoes the afternoon before his death.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday March 31, 2004 at the First United Methodist Church in Matagorda with the Rev. Fran Foger officiating.

Interment will follow in the Matagorda Cemetery.

Friends may call for visitation at noon Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: his sisters, Roma Savage and November Jaynes, both of Wharton; brother, Turino Banyansco of Wharton; nieces, Mary Ann Kiel of Richmond, Cynthia Orsak of Wharton, Margie Morris of College Station, Mary Jane Zero and Dorothy Walls, both of Palacios; nephews, Bobby Jaynes Jr. of Kemah and Jessie Zero of Galveston.

He was preceded in death by sisters, Mary Mahavier Ryman and Katy Hicks and by brothers, Pete and Ned Banyansco.

Pallbearers are Bernard Orsak, Bernard Orsak Jr., Matthew Kiel, Bobby Jaynes Jr, and Sammy Morris.

If so desired, memorials may be made to MEHOP, 101 Ave. F North, Bay City, TX 77414.

Funeral services are under the direction of the Wharton Funeral Home.

The Bay City Tribune, March 31, 2004

November Banyansco Jaynes
July 10, 1923 — March 29, 2012

November was born the youngest of eight children to Pietro and Carrie Clay Banyansco of Matagorda.

November went on to graduate from Bay City High School in 1941. She met and married Bobby Jaynes, deceased 1992, in Matagorda and is survived by four children: Mary Ann Kiel of Richmond, Cynthia Orsak and husband Bernard of Wharton, Bobby "Sonny" Jaynes Jr. of Kemah, and Margaret Morris of College Station. Grandchildren include Kim Deering and husband Kerry of Arizona, Heather Wilk and husband Gary of San Antonio, Matthew Kiel of San Antonio, Bernard Orsak Jr. and wife Sharon of Wharton, and Lacy Orsak of Stafford; and also survived by seven great-grandchildren.

One of her favorite things to do was to work in her yard, tending to her flowers and vegetable garden. Even though her crop was small, she often shared with close friends and neighbors. She could be seen holding a 11/2 lb. tomato. Her favorite color was red and her favorite flower was the rose.

We, the children of November Jaynes, would like to thank all those who crossed her path in life and added color to her life experience. Our mother had the ability to be a peacemaker and had a great capacity for forgiveness. Her life was simple and wants for herself were few. We will carry her memory lovingly in our hearts always.

A graveside service was held Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 1 p.m. Interment was at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Wharton with Rev. Debbie Cenko officiating.

Wharton Journal-Spectator, April 4, 2012
 

Marker Photos Courtesy of Faye Cunningham