Franklin Bruce Bassett

Franklin Bruce Bassett, 85, passed away peacefully on Feb. 12, 2021, at home surrounded by his family. He was born on Dec. 17, 1935 in Tampa, Fla., to Franklin Oak Bassett and Alliene Tuggle Bassett.

Frank graduated from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., and went on to attend Rice University, at the age of 16, where he obtained a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and was a member of the Rice Owls Golf Team.

In 1961, he married Mary Lou in Borger, Texas.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Bassett; his five children Skip Bassett (Becky), Kathlene Bassett (Khanh), Linda Cannon, Michael Bassett (Anne), Mary Scott (Mark), 11 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

After college, Frank worked at Phillips 66 for 39 years where his career took him and his family around the world. In 1973, he moved his family to Stavanger, Norway where he worked offshore in the North Sea where oil was being produced for the first time. As he continued his work with Phillips 66, Frank moved with Mary Lou and their children to London, England; Bartlesville, Okla.; Bountiful, Utah; Kansas City, Kan.; and Lake Jackson, Texas.

Frank loved playing golf and was a low handicap player who was known for several hole in one’s. He taught Mary Lou how to play and this became one of their hobbies that continued throughout his retirement years. He also taught all five of his children how to play the game and when they were growing up it was not unusual to see all of them on the course every Sunday where he would be coaching them.

He also loved his cabin in Creede, Colo., and would spend the summer months at the cabin fly fishing for trout, hiking, enjoying the wildlife and having coffee with his buddies in town. He loved when his children visited and brought the grandkids so he could spend time with them fishing and hiking. He even experienced a time when a bear walked up behind him while he was fishing in the river next to his cabin. He loved exploring the history of Creede being a silver mining town and could tell you many stories about that and how the area was actually the crater of a volcano.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rice University Alumni Association online at giving.rice.eduor by mailing to the following address: Rice University Development and Alumni Relations, P.O. Box 1892, M.S. 81, Houston, Texas 77251.

Condolence messages may be written for the family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Arrangements were under the direction of Garmany and Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth St., Rosenberg, TX 77471, 281-342-4671.