John Bassett

John “Jack” T. Bassett
Age 87, of Leonard, Texas, passed away on August 25, 2013. Jack was musically talented and a prolific writer, painter and artist. He was a published author of two books, “A Cardinal Sings Again” and “War Journal of an Innocent Soldier”. He was also a former member of the American Legion Post 555 Drum and Bugle Corps in Watkins Glen. Jack graduated from Watkins Glen High School class of 1943, than served in WWII with the 10th Mountain Division in Northern Italy. After the war he studied at Cornell University and later earned his Bachelor degree in English History at Albany State. He was predeceased by his wife Hester; parents, Henry and Ethel Bassett; and a sister, Lois Keller. He is survived by three children, Alta Lyn Bassett, Nancy Brown and Jagat Joti Sinth Khalsa; sisters, Mary Alta (Henry) Day; and Betty (Charles) Calhoun, brother Frank W. (Lillian) Bassett; grandchildren, Brian and Donald Hudgins (children of Hester) and Venesa and Gabriel (children of Alta Lynn); close cousins, Ruth Myer of Interlaken and Jake Bassett of Perry, FL; high school classmate and lifelong special friend Dan O’Dell; 13 nieces and nephews, and numerous other cousins. Jack will be laid to rest at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery with military honors on Monday, September 2, 2013. You may sign a guestbook or “Light a Candle” in his memory at www.Royce-Chedzoy.com.