Fannie E. Bassett, 83, of Chetopa, died at 9:20 p.m., Thursday, November 27, 2014 at Life Care Center in Osawatomie.
She was born August 21, 1931 in Baxter Springs, Kansas to John and Maggie G. (Moore) Burnett. One of ten children born to this union and raised on a farm near Baxter Springs, Fannie attended Willow Creek Country Grade School in rural Cherokee County graduating in 1944 from the eighth grade. Fannie then attended Riverton High School in Riverton, Kansas and Kansas State Teacher's College, now Pittsburg State University, in Pittsburg.
On October 21, 1951, Fannie and Edgar Roscoe Bassett, Jr. were married at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Baxter Springs. For many years, Fannie was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church where she sang in the Junior choir. She was also a member of the Missionary Society and Sunday School, a member and officer of the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 344 of Baxter Springs, and is a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 9755 in Washington, D.C.
After moving to Chetopa in 1966, Fannie became a member of the First Christian Church where she taught Sunday School for almost 25 years until retiring in September of 1997. For several years, she served as president of the Christian Women's Fellowship of the First Christian Church, was a charter member of Cub Scout Pack 37 of Chetopa, and was also a scout den mother for many years. In earlier years, Fannie was employed by the Lee and G.B. Sewing Factories in Chetopa.
She has been connected with the Chetopa Historical Museum since 1984 when she was asked to do the Black History of Chetopa. Through the years with the help of the Chetopa Advance micro film newspaper and the help of many relatives and friends, she was able to collect obituaries for Black History Volume No. I and school pictures, etc. for Black History Volume No. II.
In 1994, Fannie became the curator of the Chetopa Historical Museum and enjoyed it immensely. She served secretary and later as president for 11 years for the Labette County Historical Society which includes four other area museums.
In 2013, Fannie was honored when asked to serve as the Grand Marshall of the Chetopa Christmas parade. Another favorite time of year was Halloween; she loved making popcorn balls to give to many generations of her trick-or-treaters.
Survivors include two sons, Roscoe Bassett and his wife, Janice, Chetopa, KS , and Walter Bassett and his wife, Elizabeth, Winslow, AZ; one daughter, Erma Clinkscale, Paola, KS; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Dorsey, Atlanta, GA, and Corrine Willis, Silver Spring, MD.
She was preceded in death by her husband, "Junior" Bassett, on September 21, 1988; six brothers, and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the First Christian Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.
Memorials are suggested to the Chetopa Historical Museum. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Fannie E. Bassett, please visit our flower store.
She was born August 21, 1931 in Baxter Springs, Kansas to John and Maggie G. (Moore) Burnett. One of ten children born to this union and raised on a farm near Baxter Springs, Fannie attended Willow Creek Country Grade School in rural Cherokee County graduating in 1944 from the eighth grade. Fannie then attended Riverton High School in Riverton, Kansas and Kansas State Teacher's College, now Pittsburg State University, in Pittsburg.
On October 21, 1951, Fannie and Edgar Roscoe Bassett, Jr. were married at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Baxter Springs. For many years, Fannie was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church where she sang in the Junior choir. She was also a member of the Missionary Society and Sunday School, a member and officer of the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 344 of Baxter Springs, and is a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 9755 in Washington, D.C.
After moving to Chetopa in 1966, Fannie became a member of the First Christian Church where she taught Sunday School for almost 25 years until retiring in September of 1997. For several years, she served as president of the Christian Women's Fellowship of the First Christian Church, was a charter member of Cub Scout Pack 37 of Chetopa, and was also a scout den mother for many years. In earlier years, Fannie was employed by the Lee and G.B. Sewing Factories in Chetopa.
She has been connected with the Chetopa Historical Museum since 1984 when she was asked to do the Black History of Chetopa. Through the years with the help of the Chetopa Advance micro film newspaper and the help of many relatives and friends, she was able to collect obituaries for Black History Volume No. I and school pictures, etc. for Black History Volume No. II.
In 1994, Fannie became the curator of the Chetopa Historical Museum and enjoyed it immensely. She served secretary and later as president for 11 years for the Labette County Historical Society which includes four other area museums.
In 2013, Fannie was honored when asked to serve as the Grand Marshall of the Chetopa Christmas parade. Another favorite time of year was Halloween; she loved making popcorn balls to give to many generations of her trick-or-treaters.
Survivors include two sons, Roscoe Bassett and his wife, Janice, Chetopa, KS , and Walter Bassett and his wife, Elizabeth, Winslow, AZ; one daughter, Erma Clinkscale, Paola, KS; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ruth Dorsey, Atlanta, GA, and Corrine Willis, Silver Spring, MD.
She was preceded in death by her husband, "Junior" Bassett, on September 21, 1988; six brothers, and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the First Christian Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8:00 p.m., Friday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.
Memorials are suggested to the Chetopa Historical Museum. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Fannie E. Bassett, please visit our flower store.
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