Shirley JoAnn Basham

Shirley JoAnn Bell Basham passed away peacefully Monday, October 3, 2022. She was born January 25, 1935 to Charles Paul Bell Sr. and Imogene “Jean” Milligan in Joplin Missouri. During her life she lived in Missouri, California, Texas, Arizona, moving to Ogden, Utah in 1970. She married Dewey Russell Basham on September 5, 1953 in Phoenix, Arizona. They were later divorced. 

Growing up Shirley loved to dance. She was involved in Tap and Ballet, but her favorite form of dance was hula. Later in life she fell in love with country line dancing, especially to anything by Billy Ray Cyrus.

Shirley was a proud homemaker and mother and spent many years as a Girl Scout leader for her daughter, Indian Guides leader for her son and as a member of the PTA for both of her children. The family spent almost every weekend camping, mostly in the Arizona area, and for many years she was a member and leader of a chapter of the National Camper and Hikers Association both in Arizona and Utah. After her kids had left home, Shirley spent several years working at the Grand Canyon in the summer and Death Valley during the winter, working in the gift shops. In her later years she became very active in the Red Hat Society, even spending time as the Queen of her chapter. 

Shirley loved her kids and especially her grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Russette (Dan) Walter; her son, Wesley (Kay) Basham; her grandchildren, Nicole (Jared) Winterbottom; Brett (Devan) Budrow and Jeremy Basham; her great-grandchildren, McKenzie (Ben) Knight; McKayla Huemiller; Parker Huemiller; Garrett Basham and Sara (Jordan) McCully; and great-great-grandchildren, Adilyn Knight; Braylinn Basham; Maverick Knight; Quincy McCully and Every Lou Knight. She is also survived by her brothers, Donald (Riza) Bell and Charles Bell. She was preceded in death by her mother, father and step-father and by her ex-husband, Russ Basham. 

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.