Obituary for Mary Emma Cowen Bassett
Mary Emma Cowen Bassett was born October 1, 1929, and passed away quietly at home on July 7, 2022. She was born in Flat Creek, Florida, spent most of her life in Gadsden County, with her last few years spent on St. George Island and in Cashiers, NC, where she passed away. Her last week was spent with a huge Cowen family reunion in Cashiers, over 100 family members attending, and she loved it with all her heart. After growing up in Flat Creek Baptist Church and being married there, she was a lifelong member of Gretna Baptist Church. She was a strong Christian lady, and loved her church family as well as her own.
She graduated from Greensboro HighSchool in 1947, then got a bachelors degree in Home Economics from Florida State University, and much later, in her 50s, got a Masters degree in Education Administration from Florida State. She was a home demonstration agent and teacher, a homemaker while her children were young. In the late 1960’s she helped start Robert F. Munroe School along with many local families of the area, from sprigging grass in the front lawn to teaching math, to being the assistant headmaster and then headmaster of Robert F. Munroe School. She finished her career as a college admissions counselor at Robert F. Munroe School. She was a member of Pilot Club, volunteered with literacy and the library foundation, and was involved with the FSU Emeritus association.
She was married to Charles W. Bassett for over 60 years before he passed in 2014. She had 7 brothers and sisters - William, Liz Zorn, Dan, EJ, and Spurgeon who are all deceased, and Joe (Tess) Cowen of Cashiers, NC, and Ken (LeeAnn) Cowen of Talking Rock, GA. She had 4 children – Bill Bassett (deceased), Susan Bassett of Cashiers, NC, Ben (Rosa) Bassett of West Palm Beach, FL, and Walker (Debbie) Bassett of Oldtown, FL. Her extended blended family included grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is also survived by beloved sisters-in-law, Doris Bassett and Jane Bassett, both of Quincy – they raised their children together and were lifelong friends as well. All her Cowen and Bassett surviving sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews and their spouses and children make up 3 more generations of her well-loved family.
She always had something blooming in her yard and flowers on the kitchen table, loved to read and sing, was an excellent cook, cherished her family, friends, and students. Her joy and her smile never faded, and she was happy all the way down to the day she died. She was a blessing beyond compare in all our lives and a legacy for us all.
Visitation will be today, Monday, July 11, 2022 from 6:00-8:00PM at Gretna Baptist Church fellowship hall. The service will be Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 10:00AM at the Gretna Baptist Church sanctuary with interment immediately following at Sunny Dell Cemetery in Gretna.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Robert F. Munroe School, 28424 Blue Start Highway, Havana, FL 32333, Sunny Dell Cemetery, 815 Sunset Drive, Quincy, FL 32351, or a charity of your choice.
Charles McClellan Funeral Home, Quincy, FL, (850) 627-7677.
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She graduated from Greensboro HighSchool in 1947, then got a bachelors degree in Home Economics from Florida State University, and much later, in her 50s, got a Masters degree in Education Administration from Florida State. She was a home demonstration agent and teacher, a homemaker while her children were young. In the late 1960’s she helped start Robert F. Munroe School along with many local families of the area, from sprigging grass in the front lawn to teaching math, to being the assistant headmaster and then headmaster of Robert F. Munroe School. She finished her career as a college admissions counselor at Robert F. Munroe School. She was a member of Pilot Club, volunteered with literacy and the library foundation, and was involved with the FSU Emeritus association.
She was married to Charles W. Bassett for over 60 years before he passed in 2014. She had 7 brothers and sisters - William, Liz Zorn, Dan, EJ, and Spurgeon who are all deceased, and Joe (Tess) Cowen of Cashiers, NC, and Ken (LeeAnn) Cowen of Talking Rock, GA. She had 4 children – Bill Bassett (deceased), Susan Bassett of Cashiers, NC, Ben (Rosa) Bassett of West Palm Beach, FL, and Walker (Debbie) Bassett of Oldtown, FL. Her extended blended family included grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is also survived by beloved sisters-in-law, Doris Bassett and Jane Bassett, both of Quincy – they raised their children together and were lifelong friends as well. All her Cowen and Bassett surviving sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews and their spouses and children make up 3 more generations of her well-loved family.
She always had something blooming in her yard and flowers on the kitchen table, loved to read and sing, was an excellent cook, cherished her family, friends, and students. Her joy and her smile never faded, and she was happy all the way down to the day she died. She was a blessing beyond compare in all our lives and a legacy for us all.
Visitation will be today, Monday, July 11, 2022 from 6:00-8:00PM at Gretna Baptist Church fellowship hall. The service will be Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 10:00AM at the Gretna Baptist Church sanctuary with interment immediately following at Sunny Dell Cemetery in Gretna.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Robert F. Munroe School, 28424 Blue Start Highway, Havana, FL 32333, Sunny Dell Cemetery, 815 Sunset Drive, Quincy, FL 32351, or a charity of your choice.
Charles McClellan Funeral Home, Quincy, FL, (850) 627-7677.
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