Eileen Patricia Bassett

Eileen was born in Brooklyn, NY on September 2, 1934. She attended primary and high school in New York and graduated from Fordham University in 1956. Following college, she was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy Reserves and served on active duty in Newport, RI.

Eileen met Burton Marshall Bassett, a Naval officer, during her active duty service in Newport where Burton and Eileen were married to each other on July 20, 1960 and remained committed to each other for 58 years. Eileen followed by becoming a schoolteacher of history, homemaker and caregiver for 5 children. They lived in Stockton, California, Ringwood, NJ, Atlanta, GA, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Raleigh, NC moving as Burton, a civil engineer, pursued a career in transportation and airport design and construction. Eileen and Burton settled in Raleigh, NC in 1984 where Eileen was substitute teacher and an avid dog handler with a love of animals. She was an active member of the Durham, NC Kennel club as a herding, agility and obedience trainer and owner of many working and champion show dogs, which was her passion for over 40 years. She was an active supporter of the North Carolina zoological society.

Eileen is survived by her husband, Burton Bassett of Raleigh; her son, Jay Bassett of Atlanta; her son, Paul Bassett of Raleigh; her daughter, Andrea Joyner of Benson; her brother, Jack Dowling of Atlanta; and 11 grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her sons Christopher and Todd Bassett; her sister, Susan Watrous; and parents, Joseph and Catherine Dowling.

Friends and family are invited to a service being held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2018 at 1:00 pm. Following the service, Eileen will be laid to rest in the St. Francis columbarium. In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations be made to the NC Zoological society on her behalf.