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Bryan-College Station Eagle, Texas, December 5, 2021
Mary Christine (McIntosh) Bassett
December 13, 1927 ? October 27, 2021
Mary Christine McIntosh Bassett was born in Mexia, Texas on December 13, 1927. She left this world to join the God she loved on October 27, 2021, at home and surrounded by family. There will be a memorial service at 2 PM on December 19, at Peace Lutheran Church.
Mary was the daughter of John Gordon and Mary Carlton McIntosh. She grew up in Mexia, Corpus Christi, and Austin Texas with frequent trips to Fort Davis where many of her Carlton relatives lived. She graduated from Austin High School in 1945 and the University of Texas in 1949 with a degree in Home Economics.
While in Austin, she met the love of her life, James Wilbur "Jim" Bassett. They were both active in the youth group at First Southern Presbyterian Church and met many lifetime friends there.
Mary and Jim were married on October 21, 1949 at First Southern Presbyterian Church in Austin. Jim's career as an agriculture expert led them to live in a wide range of locations early in their married life. They lived in Mena, Arkansas for a year before moving to Laramie, Wyoming. James Jr. was born in Wyoming and Jim's pursuit of his master's degree led the family to Bozeman, Montana in the middle of a blizzard when Jamie was a couple of weeks old. While Jim completed his master's degree and worked in the wool department at Montana State College, Mary put her expertise with young children to practice as the couple added five more children to the family. After many years of long car trips to visit family in Texas, the family returned to Texas in 1962. Jim finished work on his PhD at Texas A&M and accepted a permanent position with Texas A&M University in 1963. The family bought a wonderful house directly across from the campus and made memories in that house for the next 50 years.
In 1964, Mary was one of the pioneers of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church's preschool program with Mary Oxley and her dear friend Peggy Shafer. The program still thrives over 50 years later.
Mary moved on to start the A&M Presbyterian preschool and was a beloved kindergarten teacher there for many years. Along with her preschool experiences, Mary went back to college for a Master's degree and taught early childhood education and development courses at Texas A&M for several years.
When her children were all finally finished with schooling she returned to education and got a Master's degree in counseling with a focus on working with families and young children at A&M. She used her education and training as a licensed, professional counselor at The Answer in Bryan for many years, followed by a long practice from her home.
Mary and Jim were longtime members of A&M Presbyterian Church, and later became charter members of Peace Lutheran Church. They also loved to attend First Presbyterian Church in Fort Davis on their regular travels to West Texas.
Mary loved to travel. She and Jim went to England and Scotland, Germany, Poland, Canada, and many other places. Her entire life was punctuated by very frequent trips to their beloved Fort Davis, Texas, where the family still has a permanent homestead.
Mary has donated her body to the Texas A&M College of Medicine Medical School for use in education and research.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim; her sister, Jane "Tia" Van Auken; and her dear grandson, Joshua Lee Tackett.
Survivors include her children, Jamie and Jeanie Bassett, Jayne and Charlie Jenkins, and Martha Tackett, all of College Station, John and Bridget Bassett of Olympia, Washington, Peter and Jill Bassett of New Braunfels, Paul and Jane Bassett of Austin; along with 18 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren? so far.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Bloys Campmeeting Association, or the Volunteer Fire Department of Fort Davis, Texas.
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Bassett Family Association Database
- 2021