Lela Hanks
Lela M. Hanks passed away on Friday, March 25, 2022, at her home in Proctor at the age of 87 years and five months.
No services will be held per her wishes.
Lela was born in Hamilton, Texas to R.B. and Viola Delpha Winters Price of Hamilton.
Growing up, she attended Sanders grade school and O.L. Slaton from seventh to ninth grade in Lubbock and completed her G.E.D. on Feb. 5, 1986.
Our mother grew up with three brothers and two older sisters. Mom was the baby of the family, so you can imagine being the youngest of three older brothers who were tough as nails. I was told that she was quiet and stayed to herself when she was young, and mom told me often that her best friend was Rachel Montgomery, described by our mother as “everything I wasn’t.”
Our mother was a woman of determination and skill with a tremendous amount of love for her children and family. She started work at 13 or 14 working at a photography studio in Lubbock. In 1953 she was living in New Orleans working at a drug store where she met several celebrities. In the middle of the year of 1953, she moved to Houston for three or four months then moved back to Lubbock.
In 1965, the family moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she worked at Michigan Chandelier. After a few years of working there, she quit to do the bookkeeping for the family construction business.
In 1975 due to her father’s failing health, she moved back to Texas, residing at Pottsville and later in Hamilton. She was the manager of the Dollar Store when it was located on the square and after that she had a small clothing store on East Henry Street.
Mom attended Tarleton State University for continuing education courses in Bookkeeping that she completed on Oct. 30,1985 and Micro Computers that she completed Feb. 5, 1990.
In August 1986, mom married the love of her life, Clifton Hanks in Comanche. It was at this point life took on new meaning. She was a very devoted wife who was able to share 35 years of laughter and tenderness.
The most amazing thing about our mother was her creativity. She started sewing at an early age, making her own clothes, her children’s clothes and dresses for her great-grandchildren for events such as the Dove Festival and school plays and dresses for her great-niece’s beauty competitions. She could crochet, knit and make crafts that were awesome, and her greatest attribute is the love she had for her children that was ever present in her actions.
Lela was preceded in death by her parents, R.B. and Viola D. Price; daughter Deborah L. Gregory; sisters, Wanda A. Salyers and Lorene A. Price; brothers, John B. Price, Freddy L. Price and William B. Price and wife Doris; great-grandson Colton Smith; and stepdaughter Jamie Hanks.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Clifton Hanks; three children, Donald Gilstrap, Aaron Gilstrap and Pamela and husband Robert Sloane; stepson Scottie and wife Laurie Hanks; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great- grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
We will see you again one glorious day; until then you will forever live in our hearts.
