Gayle Maltby Earls

Gayle Maltby Earls, was born in Tonkawa, OK on August 2, 1936 and passed into his eternal home on April 12, 2018 at the age of 81. Gayle grew up in Denver City, TX and went to Texas Tech University where he graduated with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 1959. He married his first wife Dolores Battles of Dimmitt, TX on June 6, 1958 until her death in 2004. Gayle then married his 2nd wife, Dolores Moore, his high school sweetheart, on April 14, 2009.

Gayle will be greeted in heaven by his father, William Larkin Earls, his mother, Erma Maltby Earls , his brother Gary Earls, his first wife Dolores Battles of Dimmitt, TX, his sister-in-law Norma Battles Coffee, and his brother-in-law, Gerard “Pete” VanDuist of Andrews, TX

Gayle is survived by his 2nd wife, Dolores Moore of Denver City, son Kelly Earls and his wife Keri Haines Earls, and three grandsons Kaleb, Kolson, and Kamden, his daughter Brenda Earls Garske and her husband Rhyanon Garske, and twin granddaughters Larkin and Lauren, his sister Lulabel VanDuist, step son Tracy Moore and his wife Diane and two granddaughters Kaitlyn and her husband Doug and great grandson Barrett Duncan and Kassidy Moore. Brothers-in-law Roy Allen Battles and wife Rebecca, Danny Battles and wife Georganna and Rickey Battles, in addition to many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gayle served in the US Army at Ft Knox where he rose to the rank of Sargent-Tank Commander in both active and reserve duty after college, where he graded expert in four different weapons.

Gayle began his career as Human Resource Director at Tenneco, Houston, TX and then transitioned to his first banking job at InterFirst Bank, Houston in 1969. Gayle formed his philosophy for banking and life in general from being a Christian, as well as what he learned from a business professor at Texas Tech. “It’s not always the smartest one who succeeds but the hard working person who learns from their mistakes, keeps their moral compass aligned with doing the right thing, and doing it well.” He had a 17 year tenure with InterFirst achieving Chairman of the Board and CEO of two different member banks, one in Odessa and one in Houston. While in those roles, he not only demonstrated his skill at working out troubled banks but also at managing financial institutions for the long term. In 1986, he was recruited as President and CEO of TIB – The Independent BankersBank in Dallas and held the position until retiring in December 2005 with TIB being 1.6 billion in assets. After retiring from TIB, he became Chairman of the Board of AccessBank Texas, in Denton, TX until shortly before his passing. During his career, Gayle was active in other roles in other organizations including Chairman and Lifetime Director of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, served as a Director of the Baptist Loan Corporation, advisor on the Federal Advisory Council to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Advisory Director of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, Director of the Independent Community Bankers of America, first elected Chairman and member of the Texas Tech Banking School Advisory Council and Special Council to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation .

He received four career special recognitions, Texas Tech University College of Business Distinguished Alumnus, Independent Bankers Association of Texas Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Banker of the Year, Texas Bankers Association Chairman’s Award for contributions to banking, and Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Distinguished Alumnus. Lastly, the Western State School of Banking has established the “Gayle Earls Academic Achievement Award” and provides a scholarship and cash award for the top student given annually.

Gayle’s playful smile, booming West Texas voice and passion for both life and community banking can never be replaced. We now take solace in knowing that he has finished the race, is fully restored and in the presence of God.

Visitation will be held at Sparkman-Hillcrest on Wednesday. April 18, 2018 from 6-8pm and the memorial service will be held at Prestonwood Baptist Church at 2pm on April 19, 2018.

In lieu of flowers, contribution may be made in his name to: Buckner Children’s Home https://secure.buckner.org/site/Donation; Hospice Plus http://www.hospiceplus.net/donate or Prestonwood Christian Academy http://www.prestonwoodchristian.org/support-PCA/Endowments/Earls-Endowment