Mabel Marie Simmons Bassett

Mabel Marie Simmons Bassett, 96, of McKenzie, TN died peacefully on March 11th of sepsis and respiratory failure. She was formerly a resident of Marysville, WA and a longtime resident of Lakeland, FL, Bowie, MD and her birthplace Abilene, TX where she was born on April 12, 1926 as the middle child to parents Hilliard Pinkston Simmons, Sr. and Mabel Switzer Simmons Clark. Mrs. Bassett graduated from Wylie High School and attended Hardin Simmons University. She married Army Lt. John S. Bassett several weeks before his WWII deployment with the 12th Armored Division in 1943 which fought in the Battle of the Bulge. She worked as a bookkeeper for various companies in Texas (Federal Reserve Bank of San Antonio, Compton’s Transport and Mrs. Baird’s Bakery) and in the Washington, DC area (Hamilton Insurance, Ft. McNair Credit Union and Tower Federal Credit Union). Additionally, she worked in mortgage processing with TFCU. She was affiliated with Merrill-Lynch as a Realtor at the end of her career in 1989. A member of the Women’s Texas Golf Association and the Women’s West Texas Golf Association, Mrs. Bassett beat former LPGA champion Patty Berg in the 1955 “National Golf Day” (Beat the 1954 LPGA Champion) contest. She was an avid golfer and club tournament player in the 1940s and 50s, bridge player and bowler. Mrs. Bassett moved to the Washington, DC area in 1963 when the government shut down oil discovery and production which was her husband’s line of work. She is predeceased by her husband John S. Bassett, who died in 2011, her parents, and her siblings Hilliard Pinkston Simmons, Jr. and Caroline Simmons Harber. She is survived by daughters Pamela (Steve) Plaisted of Gaithersburg, MD and Michelle Sprosty of Hollow Rock, TN, granddaughters Natalie Plaisted of Frederick, MD and Kasey Butler of Colorado Springs, CO, and nieces Valerie Harber Bowen and Carol Harber Siegel, both of Houston. “Miss Mabel” still dressed sharply in her last year, had an active mind and even drove. She enjoyed reading, keeping up with current events and HGTV trends and talking with family and friends. All who knew her were blessed to have her in their lives for so many years. An inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery is planned. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GeorgeASmithandSons.com for the Bassett family.