Carl Dee Banta, Sr., passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 in Pleasanton, surrounded by his loved ones.  He was born in San Antonio on December 7, 1961, to Chester and Mildred Banta.  The Banta family are descendants of several pioneer families in Texas, including the Haby, Hanson, Mergele, and Schertz families, as well as the Banta and Kellner families.

Carl lived in several places including San Antonio, Leakey, and many cities in west, central and south Texas.  In 1981, Carl graduated from Zephyr High School, Zephyr, Texas, where he participated in football and FFA.  After graduation, he attended college at Southwest Texas State University, in San Marcos, and St. Phillip's College in San Antonio, where he earned his certification as an HVAC technician and worked in that field until his retirement.

Carl served and was honorably discharged from the United States Army, where he served for 3 years, most of that time he was stationed at Fort Hood.  He was completely at home in the outdoors.  He loved hunting, fishing, camping, and shooting sports.  Carl was very proud of his gun collection and even reloaded a lot of his own ammunition.  One time, while hunting, Carl shot at and missed a deer.  That's when he knew it was time for his cataract surgery.

Carl was also very talented and loved working with leather crafts, he was sought after by many due to his beautiful craftsmanship.  If he was not crafting, he took great delight in spending time with his grandchildren and was a beloved son, father brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend.

Shortly before Carl's death, he became a Christian, and is now residing in his Heavenly home.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Chester Dee Banta and Ophelia Mildred (Kellner) Banta; son, Caleb Wayne Banta; and great-niece, Elizabeth Marie Ritchie.

He is survived by his sister, Karen Kay (Banta) Clarkson and husband, Dannie Clarkson of Leming; sons, Carl Dee Banta, Jr. and wife Lacy Banta of Pleasanton, and Clinton Chester Banta and wife Kamilyn Banta of Lawson, Missouri; grandchildren, Colton Dee Banta, Ty Edmond Banta, and Cyanna May Banta of Pleasanton and Derik Wendell Banta and Elizabeth Ann Banta of Lawson, Missouri; nephews, Daniel Wayne Clarkson of San Antonio and Matthew Dee Ritchie and wife Dana Ritchie of Montgomery; great-nephews, Christian James Sidler-Newey, Braedyn Wyatt Dee Ritchie and Payton Dewain Thomas Ritchie of Montgomery and Eric Riegel and Shawn Riegel; long-time friends, Wendell Willbourn of Hamilton, Jim Weathers of Brownwood and Sam Weathers of Devine; along with a host of good friends and family, including many, many cousins, and hunting and fishing buddies.

Visitation for Mr. Banta will be Sunday, September 25, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, at Hurley Funeral Home.  Graveside services will be held Monday, September 26, 2022, at 12:00 pm, in Cypress Creek Cemetery in Leakey, located on Cypress Creek Road off US Highway 83.