ANNA BANKS AUVENSHINE transitioned from
her earthly life to her heavenly body peacefully
in the early hours of Sept. 15, 2024. She was 85
at the time of her passing, having been born on
Nov. 27, 1938.
Anna Lee Banks was born in Waco, TX as the first of
two daughters born to DC & Lois Banks. Her parents
instilled in her a love of reading, music and new
discoveries and education. Her father grew up without
parents in the Methodist Home of Waco while her mother
grew up in rural Bosqueville. They wanted more for
their daughters than they had experienced in the
early years of the twentieth century. Anna was
the first of her family to attend college, paying
her own way through Baylor University while living
at her family home in Waco. She worked in the
Registrar's Office and finished Baylor in just three
years. Her teaching career began at Lake Air Middle
School in Waco in 1959, at the age of 20.
She met a young band director, Bill Auvenshine, while
he was back in Waco visiting family at Herring Avenue
Methodist Church, where both of them had attended
through childhood. Bill and Anna were married in Dec.
of 1963. They honeymooned in the mountains of Mexico,
even traveling late into one town by lamplight of the
mule leading them to their destination. As a married
couple, Bill and Anna explored much of the western U.S.
with a great affinity for Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico,
& California. They also traveled the world, continuing
to explore and learn; visiting numerous European and
Mediterranean locations, China, Egypt, Canada, & Mexico.
Anna continued her education, earning two more degrees
from Baylor, culminating with an Ed.D in Reading in 1978.
Prior to moving to Hillsboro, she taught at the junior
high school, high school and college level, and served
six years on the Ranger ISD School Board with two years
as its President.
Upon moving to Hillsboro in 1984, she immediately immersed
herself in service to the community. She began service with
the Sesame Club; and with her family, joined the First
Methodist Church of Hillsboro where she sang in the choir
for several years and played piano and organ when needed.
Professionally, Anna taught for several years at Hillsboro
High School and later served as the Curriculum Director for
Hillsboro ISD and as Principal of Franklin Elementary School.
Her professional abilities and duties eventually took her
to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education in Austin
and Texas State Technical College in Waco.
Anna has maintained her love of reading throughout her life.
That passion opened doors for her to see the world and
encourage others to open doors for themselves as she always
promoted the importance of education and reading. Anna's
years as an educator were known for encouraging students
to continue their studies and to better their futures.
Always curious and always wanting to share that feeling
with her family and her students and co-workers...never
stop learning!
Always searching for new experiences, Anna became a skilled
seamstress, a talented photographer, an exceptional artist
of all things needle-crafted from macrame to embroidery,
and a gift for cooking delicious meals.
This past December, she and Bill celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Anna is survived by her husband, William (Bill, RHS-Faculty)
of Hillsboro, TX; daughter, Karen Lawless, and her husband,
Lane, of Tulsa, OK; son, Lee, and his wife Stacey of Gwinnett
County, GA; and beloved grandchildren Morgan Lawless and
Corinne, Misty, Natalie, and Tripp Auvenshine. She is preceded
in death by her parents, D.C. & Lois Banks and sister, Carol
Dee Linnemann.