Patsy "Pat" Basham

Basham, Patsy L.
Age 86, passed away Thursday, November 12, 2015 in Albuquerque, NM. She was born in El Centro, CA on September 1, 1929, to Earl and Ruth Wieman Kendall.  Her passion growing up was hunting and fishing. Most summers her and her parents vacationed in Campbell River, Vancouver Island, Canada. She would later return there as an adult with her husband Bill and her son Robert. Salmon fishing was big there and Patsy once caught a salmon that was bigger than her 4 year old son. Patsy attended the University of California at Berkley where she met Bill Basham at a fraternity party. Sorority girls were drawing the young men as they entered the party. Upon seeing this, Bill chose to draw Pat. Upon graduation the two of them married in 1952 and even though Bill had earned a degree in Engineering, he went into the insurance and bonding business. Pat had also graduated with a degree in Fashion design but spent her early years as a teacher. Pat and Bill moved to Santa Fe, NM and three years later moved to Albuquerque, NM.  Pat's love of nature lead her to take her drawing more seriously and she became an accomplished wild life artist showing and selling her works in several art shows in the Southwest. Her work was also displayed and sold in the Weems Gallery in Albuquerque. After 17 years in Albuquerque, they moved to Socorro, NM where they purchased a 12 acre farm. Pat and Bill opened up Basham Construction in Socorro and built and remodeled many homes and commercial properties. There son Robert  joined them in 1990 and they worked together until Bill and Pat retired in 2005 and Robert would return to the golf business. For the next 10 years Pat would continue her work as an artist. Pat was an avid bird watcher and loved to study her birds up close. Birding was such a big part of Pat's life that her license plate on her car reads LV2Bird.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, William H. Basham; and her parents. Pat is survived by her son, Robert "Bob"  Basham and wife, Sabina; grandson, Nicholas Basham; sister-in-law, Nida Robinson; and commadre Rose Armijo.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 10:00 am at Daniels Family Funeral Services, 309 Garfield, Socorro. A reception will follow at the El Sombrero Restaurant, 210 Mesquite, Socorro. The family would like to thank the staff at Haven Care Assisted Living and Hospice De La Luz of Albuquerque for their loving care. In lieu of flowers donations may be given in Patsy's honor to Camp Enchantment of New Mexico at www.unmfund.org/fund/campenchantment. To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com. Pat's care has been entrusted to  
Daniels Family Funeral Services
309 Garfield St
Socorro, NM 87801
575-835-1530