Percy “Leroy” Banta, age 92, of Brownsville died Tuesday at a Lebanon care facility. Leroy was born in Crawfordsville, November 14, 1917; one of ten children to Percy Walter and Leona “Etta” (Dalbert) Banta.

Leroy grew up in Crawfordsville and attended Sweet Home High School.

He married Maurine Washburn on December 30, 1939 in Vancouver, Washington. They settled in Brownsville. He cared for Maurine until her death in 2006. He remained independent and vibrant until the recent illness that took his life.

Leroy was a logger most of his life and enjoyed being outdoors. He liked rockhounding, fishing, assembling jigsaw puzzles, and working on his property. He was a member of AF & AM Lodge 202 in Sweet Home.

Leroy is survived by: his son, James of Halsey; daughter, Tamara of Portland; sisters, Lenore Clemm of Gig Harbor, WA and Louise King of Fruitland, ID; brothers, Otis of Crawfordsville and Oren of Eugene; four grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by: sisters, Bessie Nichols and Jessie Johnson; brothers, Orville, Leo, and Hubert; and son, Steven.

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 20, 2010 at the Crawfordsville Union Cemetery. Friends my call Saturday 10:00 a.m., to noon at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.