| Notes |
- Daily Independent Newspaper - Ridgecrest, Kern County, California
Opal Jean Peterson Bassett 1920 - 2003
Opal Jean Peterson died in her sleep at home Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003. She was 83.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, Aug. 13 from 5 to 7 pm at Holland & Lyons Chapel. A rosary will be said at 6 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at St. Ann Catholic Church Thursday, Aug. 14 at 9:30 am. Burial will be in Orleans, Neb.
Bassett was born July 30, 1920 in a farmhouse in Orleans, Neb. to Mr. and Mrs. Ben Peterson. She was delivered by her grandmother on her mother's birthday. She went from a one-room country school to business college, where she learned secretarial skills.
She married Donald Bassett Aug. 30, 1943, in a marriage that would last 62 years, 11 months and one week.
During World War II, she followed Donald until he was deployed overseas. The couple first came to China Lake in 1958 where Bassett had a Girl Scout troop for several years. She worked for the federal government until her retirement. Bassett traveled and worked in the Philippines and San Diego before returning to Ridgecrest in 1983 to enjoy retirement on their acreage on the edge of town. She enjoyed her dogs and all her animals. Bassett also volunteered to help in classes of English as a second language in Ridgecrest. Her greatest joy was visiting with family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her husband Donald Bassett of Ridgecrest, son Bill Bassett of Ridgecrest, daughters Carole Cannon of Ridgecrest and Connie Jackson of Torrance, eight adult grandsons, one grand daughter and seven great grandchildren.
Arrangements and media information provided by Holland & Lyons Mortuary.
|