Georgia Durst

Georgia Marie Banther Durst was born March 22, 1944, in Joplin, Mo., and passed away March 15, 2026, in Richardson, Texas.

She was born to Margaret Green-Spor and Thomas Dykes. Her mother preceded her in death in 2006. Georgia attended Neosho High School in Neosho, Mo. She later pursued higher education at the University of Central Oklahoma, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1988, followed by a double master’s degree in nutrition and management in 1991.

Throughout her career, she was highly respected in her field and served as the Oklahoma state president of the Dietary Managers Association during the 1980s. In 1978, Georgia married Albert Lewis Banther. He preceded her in death in 2005. Georgia dedicated much of her professional life to nutrition and healthcare.

She served as director of Food and Nutrition Services at Kingfisher Regional Hospital for 12 years while residing in Kingfisher, where she lived for 31 years.

Over the course of her career, she spent 25 years working as a corporate and regional dietitian for longterm care facilities, traveling throughout the United States. She also specialized as a dialysis dietitian for seven years before retiring as a registered and licensed dietitian in 2022. Georgia was actively involved in her community and professional organizations. She was a lifetime member of the University of Central Oklahoma Alumni Association and a member of the American Dietetic/Nutrition Association for 35 years, as well as the North Texas Dietetic/ Nutrition Association.

During her time in Kingfi sher, she also served as president of the Kingfisher High School Band Boosters in 1987 and 1988.

Georgia and her husband, Al Banther, were honored with the Honorary State FFA Degree for their outstanding support and contributions to the Kingfisher Future Farmers of America chapter. Georgia moved to Texas in 2007 and had been a resident of Rockwall County for the past 10 years.

She is survived by her two daughters, Debra Hardesty and Deena Gumm; one grandson, Jacob Gumm and his wife, Gracie, all of the Dallas metropolitan area; and her longtime partner, Michael Scully of Denison, Texas.

Visitation for Georgia will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Sanders Funeral Service.

A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, at Kingfisher Cemetery under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.