Margaret Ann Basbagill

Margaret Ann “Maggie” Basbagill was born on March 12th, 1932, to Alice (Swingle) and Richard Wallar in Zanesville Ohio. She was the oldest of four children, Richard, Kay and Susie. She graduated from St. Thomas High school in 1950 and after a long discernment chose to pursue a religious life and entered the Our Lady of Grace Monastery. She was a novice and our family joked that she had issue with a “vow of silence” so she never took her final vows. After she left the monastery, she went on to pursue her education at St Mary’s of the Springs and finally earning her Bachelor of Science Degree with evening classes at the University of Cincinnati in 1968.

During a trip home during this time, she had a car accident that changed her life forever and, in her words, “It was a modern miracle that she could walk”. She endured numerous surgeries and had pins and screws added to her lower leg which gave her mobility, but she was limited. After graduation she went to work for the EPA which is where she met her husband William “Bill” Basbagill. Bill was a little shy, but Maggie’s charm and wit (and persistence) won him over! They were married on May 17th, 1969, in Zanesville Ohio at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic church. They lived in Cincinnati, Ohio working for EPA until they were transferred to North Carolina for a short time and finally moved to Lakewood, Colorado where they decided to make their forever home.

In 1972 they were blessed with the adoption of a son Michael Joseph Basbagill, and in 1974 again blessed with the adoption of their daughter Mary Anne Basbagill (Erwin). Maggie decided to “retire” and become a full-time mom. As a family they enjoyed numerous family trips, whether it was camping (our summer weekends were always busy) or visiting family in Ohio every Christmas. Going with Bill to Tucson Arizona for mineral shows, Ireland, England and France, Hawaii with Bills sister Mary Ellen, cruises and on Bills final vacation which was a two-week road trip to a mineral show in Port Townsend where he passed away in 2002.

In her life, she always put God first and followed Jesus’ teaching of service to others and that is how she led her life. She volunteered anywhere she could, taking communion to the sick at Lutheran hospital, calling bingo on Wednesdays at Villa Manor or endless hours at the Action center whenever they needed a helping hand. She was very involved with her beloved parish of Christ on the Mountain of which her and Bill were founding members. Fridays during Lent she could be found collecting money at the Knights of Columbus fish fry’s, helping with the women’s group Tea party and bake sales and helping the Outreach committee find worthy causes for donations. Her volunteering was really her full time job! She was also the bus coordinator for Our Lady of Fatima school for numerous years and was the “head bingo gal” for numerous nonprofits helping to earn money for them. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and made so many lasting friendships from all her endeavors.

In her later years, she was a fixture at the Green Mountain Rec center as her mobility was getting worse and the water aerobics helped to keep her out of a wheelchair as she would say. She made many lasting friendships there as well. Bill started a tradition of a huge birthday party for every decade milestone she made after 60 and we were so blessed to celebrate her 90th in 2022. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 and had a few good years that slipped into bad ones. Her granddaughter Gabby helped to take care of her so that she could be kept at home where she was when she entered eternal rest.

She is survived by her loving daughter Mary (Danny) Erwin and their children and grandchildren, Gabby, Xavier, Emma (Elijah) Palomino, Denahi and Shreyas; son, Michael (Sheila) Basbagill , Adalyne and Cinjin, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband Bill, her parents, all her siblings and her grandson Dietrich Praska.

She lived a life of service, so in memory of her get out there and volunteer where you can and give back to the community and help those in need.

In Lieu of flowers PLEASE donate to your local foodbanks, as at this time they are in need of everything we can give.

A Rosary will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 10:30AM followed by a Memorial Mass at 11AM, both at Christ on the Mountain Catholic Church in Lakewood. A reception will follow in the JDM Hall.