Dates
Jim Ed Basham of Mertzon, Texas passed away June 16, 2016 in San Angelo, Texas at the age of 86.
Jim Ed was born on October 14, 1929 in Gatesville, Texas to Burnell and Avo Rogers Basham.
He first set foot on the Bar S Ranch, which is now known as the Rocker b Ranch, in September 1949 at the youthful age of nineteen years. When Jim arrived at the ranch he didn’t have a horse or a saddle, but apparently, Mr. Farr saw something in Jim Ed’s character and hired him on the spot. Jim Ed lived and worked on the Rocker b Ranch for all but two years during his forty-nine year tenure. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in May 1951 and served his country for two years before returning directly to the ranch.
Jim Ed married Dorothy Miller, October 14, 1950 and raised two children on the Rocker b. Jim Ed was promoted to Ranch Foreman in 1954 and held the position until his retirement in May 1998. Jim Ed brought many valuable attributes to the Texas ranching industry. He brought dedication to his job, integrity in the way he conducted business and continuity in having served the ranching industry for five decades. He was a worthy recipient of the Trailblazer Award in 2006.
As much as Jim Ed loved the Rocker b, he had a love that far exceeded it, his love for family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of sixty-four years, Dorothy Dot Basham; his parents; his sister, Billie Jean Shelton and her husband Joe; brother, B.A. Basham and wife Elvie; a step-father, Chalk Black; brother-in-law, Charles Miller and wife Shirley.
Jim Ed is survived by his son Jim Basham and wife Cindy of Gatesville; daughter Jan Basham of Mertzon; grandchildren Ryan Basham and mother Donna Basham; Mikka Pavelka and husband Frankie; Misty Basham; and granddaughter Tatum Basham.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 20, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Mertzon in Mertzon, Texas. Pallbearers will be Dennis Webb, Jim Miller, Bud Farr, Phil Farr, Bill Farr, Eddie Martin, Mike Dolan, Howard Swaringin, Boone Stokes, Howard Parks, Rusty Culp, Buzz Harrington, Phillip Tankersly, Larry Settle and Wayne Herman. Services are under the direction of Shaffer Funeral Home/Sherwood Way.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to make a donation in Jim Ed’s honor to the Scottish Rite Hospital or First Baptist Church of Mertzon.