James Robert Bassett descends from William Bassett of Plymouth as follows:<\/p>\n
William Bassett and wife Elizabeth
\nWilliam Bassett (b. 1624) and wife Mary Raynesford
\nWilliam Bassett (b. 1656) and wife Rachel Willison
\nNathan Bassett (b. 1685) and wife Mary Stetson
\nJoshua Bassett (b. 1723) and wife Martha McCarroll
\nIsaac Bassett (b. 1760) and wife Abigail
\nWilliam Bassett (b. 1787) and wife Cemantha Powers
\nCharles Wesley Bassett (b. 1810) and Triphena Stewart
\nGeorge Stewart Bassett (b. 1871) and wife Evelyn Frances Jones
\nCharles Francis Bassett (b. 1899) and wife Florence Sheldon
\nJames Robert Bassett<\/p>\n
Dahl McVicker Funeral Home
\nJames Robert Bassett (Picture included)
\nMarch 1, 1935 \u2013 January 26, 2021<\/p>\n
James Robert Bassett, 85 1\/2, passed away during the big horse chase on Gunsmoke on Tuesday January 26th, 2021. It might have been the Virginian; frankly after years, they all look the same to his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cJim Bob\u201d was born in Detroit Michigan March 1st, 1935. He was the youngest son and second-youngest child of Charles and Florence Bassett, who had seven children (and obviously a lot of cold winters to get through). Born in the middle of the Great Depression, Jim learned how to squeeze the life out of a penny and fix anything so nothing new needed to be purchased; lifetime skills his daughters held little appreciation for, until they aged. He was raised \u201cwalking two miles to school in the freezing snow,\u201d which apparently was blizzard-like every single day of his school year. It\u2019s amazing he survived! He held memories of swimming holes, a one room schoolhouse, mink farm fun with his siblings, and shooting guns (but never his eye out). He let go of the memories that involved having three fun teenage daughters overseas. It\u2019s probably best he did.<\/p>\n
Jim graduated Ithaca High School and entered the United States Air Force to become a pilot. He turned his life\u2019s passion of flying into a 26-year career as a fighter pilot, an embassy military group commander, a military base deputy commander, and eventually retiring as a full bird colonel. He received many honors and awards throughout his life, including earning an MBA from Auburn, the Distinguished Flying Cross given to him by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967, 3 Silver Stars, 1 2-Oak Leaf Cluster, 1 10-Oak leaf Cluster, a Legion of Merit Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal, and an Air Force Commendation Medal. He was accomplished.<\/p>\n
He bought a farm near Mt. St. Helens and prepared to move right before the mountain erupted. With his wife, youngest daughter, and 2 dogs, he moved his family to Toledo and began his second careers as a volcano tour guide out of the Toledo Airport, a real estate agent, and a Centralia College Instructor. Primarily though, he was a farmer with no livestock or crops, just planes. He had a good crop of planes over the decades though, and a big herd of parts and \u201cstuff\u201d to go with them. So farmer it is. After that, he just called himself retired and spent his remaining years having fun, doing volunteer work, flying his crop of planes, and dealing in antique model airplane engines.<\/p>\n
Jim\u2019s was a long-time member of Toledo Presbyterian Church, known for tossing napkins at the church ladies, being an enthusiastic potluck partaker, and generous bake sale backer. Enjoyments included The Country House on Sundays in Kay\u2019s section, Denny\u2019s on Tuesday in Blanche\u2019s section, and Fridays at Papa Pete\u2019s in Castle Rock. He couldn\u2019t figure out how he wound up with heart disease, but he was pretty sure it wasn\u2019t diet related.<\/p>\n
Jim is survived by his no-western-watching-anymore wife of 61 years, Judith Ann Bassett. Also left behind were those three teenage girls all grown up. Eldest and most responsible daughter Barbara Shillingford of Salt Lake City, middle and most over-achieving daughter Linda Geer of New Port Richey Florida, and youngest most talented daughter Diane Bassett Geister of Vader Washington (they\u2019re going to hurt me for that). Sons-in-law Gary Geister, Steve Shillingford, and Don Geer will all miss his insight into the three daughters. Other survivors include grandchildren Ryan Ehin, Sarah Buck, Sam Shillingford, Alex Shillingford, Shane Geer, Jake Geer, George Geer, Charlie Geer, Mathew Keksi, Katherine McGraw, Samantha Geister, Jessica Rudkin, and Mellissa Willard. Great-Grandchildren Addisyn Ehin, Harper Ehin, Harper Redding, Reid Redding, Jackson Buck, Carson Buck, Vanessa Geer, Nessa McGraw, Christopher Willard, Renee Willard, Ryan Willard and Marilyn Gomez.<\/p>\n
There will be a private ceremony for the family. Due to Covid-19, there will be no big-gathering life service until restrictions have been lifted. We\u2019ll dig him up for that\u2026 wait\u2026 never mind. I\u2019m being told he stays put once buried. We\u2019ll still have the service, but no viewing this summer apparently. That\u2019s probably a good idea.<\/p>\n
We hope Dads obituary brought you as many smiles reading it as he brought us smiles knowing him. Life is short, love deep & laugh hard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
James Robert Bassett descends from William Bassett of Plymouth as follows: William Bassett and wife Elizabeth William Bassett (b. 1624) and wife Mary Raynesford William Bassett (b. 1656) and wife Rachel Willison Nathan Bassett (b. 1685) and wife Mary Stetson … Continue reading