Thelma C. Bassett (88) of Effingham

Thelma C. Bassett, 88, of Effingham, IL, passed away on September 19, 2022, at Ossian Health and Rehabilitation in Ossian, IN.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 26, 2022, at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Burial will be in Toliver Cemetery in rural Louisville, IL. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25, 2022, and from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Monday at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham.

Memorials may be made to the Effingham Public Library Early Literacy Outreach Program. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. 

Thelma was born on July 10, 1934 in Bible Grove Township, IL, the daughter of Russell R. and Mabel (Lister) Livingood. She married Carl D. Blankenship on June 7, 1951, and he preceded her in death on August 30, 1989. She later married James B. Bassett on July 10, 1995, and he preceded her in death on January 15, 2002. Her daughter Linda Dohm also preceded her in death on June 20th of this year. She came from a large family where brothers Roy (JoAnn), Oscar (Ann), and infant Donald Livingood; sister, Betty (Herbert) Byers; and great-granddaughter, Victoria Follin preceded her in death while being survived by siblings Jimmy (Mary), Dessie (James) Powell, Dale (companion, Diane), Mary (Doug) Braum, Nancy (Darrel) Earnest. She is also survived by son, Carl E. Blankenship and daughter, Deb (Lonny) Berryman; grandchildren, Tommy (Tracy) Dohm, Butch (Amy) Blankenship, Bobby Morris, Becky Ordway, Tara (Todd) Shininger, Josh Fisher, Dean (Merry) Nichols, Eddie (Stacy) Blankenship and Kim Blankenship; and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.

To know Thelma was to know that you were loved most deeply. She strived to provide her children and grandchildren opportunities in life that were difficult to attain in her childhood. Her love for family was as big as her desire to fill your belly with her home cooking. She hated to see food go to waste and would often go around with the “last” spoonful of food making darn sure no one left the table with room in their bellies. Thelma loved to play cards with people of all skill levels. We all felt sorry for the newbies and pity for the ones who thought their skills were greater than hers. Card games were the only area of her life where she showed no mercy especially if there was laughter to be had and it was usually hers. Her love for reading, puzzles, card games and Beanie Babies was legendary. Her love for the little ones that came to visit was even greater and more times than not she would send them home with a Beanie Baby from her collection, unbeknownst to Jim which ones were finding new homes. She will be missed immensely by those that had the honor to be loved by her all the while knowing that she will be waiting for us with a smile, a hug, and a spoonful of ice cream.