Joseph Avery Bassett 1918-1986

Joseph Avery Bassett of Dixon, was born on October 16, 1918, in Pulaski County, a son of Elmer Raymond and Cora Ellen Johnson Bassett, and departed this life at 12:35 a.m. on Saturday morning, May 17, 1986 in the Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, after undergoing open heart surgery on Friday.  He had been in failing health for the past eight years and had attained the age of 67 years, 7 months and 1 day.

He was united in marriage on September 19, 1940 at Dixon to the former Miss Erma Collier, and to this union four children were born.

He had been employed for twenty-three years by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service at Fort Leonard Wood, and at the time of his retirement on Jan. 1, 1976, he was a service station assistant manager.  He was a member of the Pisgah Baptist Church near Dixon, having accepted Jesus Christ as his personal saviour and following his lord in baptism in 1939.  He was ordained a deacon in the church on August 25, 1948, and also had served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher for many years.

A loving husband, dad, grandpa, brother and friend, he will indeed be sadly missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.

Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Monday afternoon, May 19, 1986, in the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes with the Rev. Steven M. Lynch, Pastor, Pisgah Baptist Church, Dixon and the Rev. Frank Burger, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Hermitage, officiating.

Interment was in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Active pallbearers were Roy Bassett, Douglas Martin, Dave Roop, Kent Bassett, Mike Eutsler and Ralph Bonofiglio and honorary pallbearers were Alva Manes, Claude Carrell, Doral Cardin and Ralph Manes who were members of Mr. Bassett’s Sunday School Class.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Pisgah Baptist Church near Dixon with envelopes being available at the Dixon Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

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Erma Bassett, of the home near Dixon; two sons and daughters in law, Charles and Barbara Bassett, Dixon, and Keith and Genie Bassett, Rolla; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Bill Conover, Rolla, and Laverne and Bruce Stansberry, Joplin; six grandchildren, Leasa and David Day, Jerry Bassett, Carol Bassett, Billie Conover and Christopher Stansberry; two brothers, Wayne Bassett, Rolla, and Harry Bassett, Napa, California; two sisters, Mrs. Blanche Eckert, Vienna, and Mrs. Grace Martin, Dixon; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father on April 3, 1953; his mother on August 1, 1955; three brothers, Arthur Bassett on May 12, 1967, Clarence Bassett on December 21, 1985, and Clyde Bassett on May 19, 1978; and one sister, Mrs. Nola Nelson on May 14, 1954.