Rose Marie Bassett passed away quietly Thursday, May 19, 2011 in the Stayton home she shared with her husband of 67 years, Earl L. Bassett. Earl was by her side.Rose Marie was born Nov. 7, 1916 in Springfield, Ohio. She was the last survivor of eight children of Henry A. and Mary A. Gnau. She attended school in Springfield and went to Mt. St. Joseph College in Cincinnati. One of the first women to volunteer for the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) during WWII, she served at Camp White near Medford. It was there she met Earl. After a brief romance, Earl and Rose Marie were married on April 8, 1944. Rose Marie was a sergeant, but had to give up her rank to marry Earl, a private. Earl has always joked that he married his sergeant and has “been taking orders ever since.” The couple was blessed with four children: Mary Ann (Walter) Kosiewicz, Salem; Linda (Richard) Dotter, Stayton; Fred Bassett, Beaver; and Bill (Noreen) Bassett, Mill City. The Bassetts raised their children in Mill City. Rose Marie was a stay-at-home mom while Earl worked in logging. In 1966, Earl and Rose Marie moved to Stayton where Earl operated Earl’s Chevron Service. The most important things in Rose Marie’s life were family and her faith. She was blessed with 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. As family visited in her final days, she remembered each one, to whom each is married and their children. She even remembered that her 22nd great-grandchild – a boy – is due in September. In her memory, the Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 23 at Weddle Funeral Chapel, 1777 N. Third, Stayton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, at Immaculate Conception Church, 1077 N. Sixth Ave., Stayton. Graveside service and reception will follow at Anthony Hall. In lieu of flowers, as per Rose Marie’s wishes, the family is asking for memorial contributions to be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church http://www.immacstayton.org/
Arrangements entrusted to Weddle Funeral Services Stayton, OR.
