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- The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 8 Jan 1999
Auburn - Merle E. Bassett
Merle E. Bassett, 66, died Wednesday at home. Born in DeKalb County, he was owner and operator of Bassett Electric Motors Inc. for 38 years, retiring in 1998. Surviving are his wife, Polly; four sons, Thomas E. of Fort Wayne, Mark A. and Kevin J., both of Auburn, and William M. of Grabill; a brother, Richard L. of Kendalville; a sister, Dessie M. Biddle of Dousman, Wis.; six grandchildren; and one step-grandchild. Services at 11 a.m. Monday at McComb, Dilgard & Cline Funeral Home, Auburn, with calling from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Auburn. Memorials to Auburn Presbyterian Church, Boy Scout Troop 169 or to DeKalb Memorial Hospice.
DeKalb County 1837 - 1987, Volume Two
DeKalb County Families (1987)
Merle Bassett was born in Concord Township, the second of four children to Virgil & Flossie Bassett. Merle grew up on a farm, attending and graduated from St. Joe High School. After serving in the army during the Korean conflict, Merle attended Coyne American Institute in Chicago where he studied to become a telphone lineman. However, Merle did not go into that business and instead started his own business, a motor repair shop.
Polly was born to Everson and Bessie DeCoursey in 1937 and attended and graduated from Auburn High School. on 28 Jul 1958, wedding bells were heard at the Auburn Presbyterian Church as Rev. Freeman married Merle Bassett and Polly DeCoursey. During the early years of their marriage, Merle and Polly worked to keep the business going. Ther hard work paid off as the Bassett Electric Motor Repair Shop is still in business today on 11th St., having moved there after a fire destroyed the business in 1964. While the business was going, Polly took some classes, and taught herself, to become an artist. That dream was realized when Polly was invited to paint one of the backdrops in the Diem Museum of Natural History in Fort Wayne. Since then Polly has painted several paintings for people, and is recognized as an outstanding artist in this area.
In 1959 Tom Bassett was born to Polly and Merle. Afterwards came three more sons, Mark Bassett in 1960, Kevin Bassett in 1962, and William Bassett in 1966. One of the programs that all four boys participated in was the Boy Scouts of America in Boy Scout Troop 169, chartered by the Auburn Presbyterian Church. Scoutings highest aware is the Eagle Scout Award and Tom, Mark, Kevin and BIll have all attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Quite a record for Merle and Polly Bassett when statistics say only 2% of all boys who participate in the Boy Scout program become Eagle Scouts.
All four boys graduated from DeKalb high School and have begun careers of their own. Tom graduated from ITT Technical Institute and is currently working as a supervisor at W.W. Grainger, Inc. Tom is currently serving as the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 169 and is serving as an Elder of the Auburn Presbyterian Church. Mark has degrees from Tri-State University and Saint Francis College and is currently working for the Zeller Corp. Mark also is active in Boy Scouts and the Auburn Jaycees. Kevin has obtainted a degree from ITT and is working with Merle at Bassett Electric Motor Repair Shop. Bill has been working for the past year for the YMCA at their camps as a counselor. In 1981, Merle and Polly have picked up a new hobby, raising donkeys. Merle and Polly purchased a Jack and a Jenny that came from China Lake, California, and have raised them ever since. All members of the Bassett famkly are members of the Auburn Presbyterian Church in which Polly is serving as Trustee and Tom as an Elder.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1932 - 1999 (66 years)