SCIPIO
In Loving Memory of Marilyn Jean Foist Banister
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Marilyn Jean Foist Banister, who left us peacefully on December 27, 2023, at the age of ninety.
Marilyn was born on May 24, 1933, to Harold “Buck” Foist and Winifred “Winnie” Milholland Foist in Scipio, Indiana. After graduating from North Vernon High School, she married Cecil Ralph Banister in October 1951. The couple went on to start a family and put down permanent roots in Scipio.
This gracious, intelligent soul and mother of six was always surrounded by tall trees echoing our family’s love for nature. She and our father enjoyed their later years nestled in the log cabin built by our father on the banks of the Sand Creek. More than just a home; it was a symbol of love, a sanctuary of warmth, and a serene environment for reflecting on countless cherished memories.
One of the most cherished memories our family of eight holds is of our 1966 trip to Yellowstone National Park in the station wagon. In her typical selfless fashion, Mother missed seeing Old Faithful erupt because she ran an errand for the family. This story, told and retold with a mixture of laughter and admiration, perfectly illustrates our mother’s unfaltering dedication to her family.
Despite experiencing heartbreaking losses, including the loss of her soulmate and husband of 59 years (Cecil Ralph Banister), her parents, her brother (Ronald “Ronnie” Foist), two of her children (Lance Colby Banister and Nancy Renee Banister), and a grandchild (Andrea Lee Matern), Marilyn continued to guide and provide emotional support to her four surviving daughters, Janet D. (David) Tempest of Scipio, Kristi L. (Jay) Wilson of North Vernon, Julianna Proctor of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Polly K. (Paul) Thormin of Scipio. She leaves behind her sister (Imogene Foist Hall Bennett of Margate, FL), four daughters, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.
As we remember Marilyn, we find comfort in knowing that she is now reunited with her lost loved ones, perhaps sitting on a heavenly log cabin porch, reading her favorite newspaper under the tall trees. Her memory, characterized by her humble and kind nature, will forever be etched in our hearts.
In keeping with the family’s wishes, no services will be held. Donations in memory of Marilyn can be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana, Inc.
