James Edward "Edddie" Banard was born Oct 19, 1920 in Alma, Crawford Co., Ar. to Ira William Sr & Jane Ellen Nona Mae Harris Banard. Before 1930 the family moved to Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. On the 17th of Oct 1942 Eddie married Grace Maudean "Deanie" Ferguson in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Ar.. After returning from the war Eddie was employed at Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Co., in Fort Smith. Eddie and Deanie lived the rest of their lives in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co. Ar. 20 Oct 1944 James Edward Banard enlisted in the US Army at Camp Josepth T Robinson Little Rock, Ar. as a Private. He attained the rank of Corporal before leaving the Service. He served as a skilled mechanic of motor vehicles, which he worked at the rest of his live until retirement. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ James "Eddie" Banard, 96, of Fort Smith, passed away February 25, 2017 in Tulsa. He was born October 19, 1920, in Alma, to the late Ira William and Ellen Mae Harris Banard. Eddie was a veteran of the United States Army, having obtained the rank of Corporal before going to work for AOG. After retiring from AOG as fleet manager, he taught himself stained glass. For the next 30 years he touched many lives by making glass pieces for people, always given as gifts. He was a member of Midland Heights United Methodist Church. He is survived by his son David Banard of Tulsa; his granddaughter, Amy Beaty of Fayetteville, as well as two great-children. He was also preceded in death by his wife Maudean Ferguson Banard. Graveside services, with military honors, will be at 11:00am Thursday, March 2, 2017 at Roselawn Cemetery at Fort Smith, Ar. under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.