Mr. Douglas G Basham

After a sudden illness, Doug Basham of Daniels, WV passed away Sunday night. He was 72. Born on October 11, 1945 to Anna and Ivan McKinley “Mack” Basham, Doug was the “big man on campus” from the time he stepped foot into a school gymnasium. From elementary school until college, Doug made a name for himself as a top basketball prospect in West Virginia, setting scoring records in the region that stand to this day. While in high school, Doug also met the love of his life, Linda Basham. For 50 years, Doug and Linda held a bond that was hard to break, all the while raising two successful, yet hard-headed children. After graduating from Concord College and getting a masters in education from West Virginia University, Doug returned to southern West Virginia to help mold the minds of the next generation as a teacher and coach. For nearly four decades, Doug touched the lives of individuals throughout southern West Virginia as a teacher and coach. Working through the halls of Mullens, Hinton, Sophia and later Independence High School and junior high, Doug was always the go-to guy for any student or athlete who needed an ear or advice on whatever issue they had. In addition, Doug was also a huge presence within the community with a kind heart, frequently giving back to various organizations and always being an enthusiastic ambassador for any cause that came his way. With the free time he had, Doug enjoyed working outside in his garden, spending days at his camp on Jungle Beach, floating the Greenbrier and New River looking for that next treasured muskie he might have published, enjoying one of his patented “Friday Cokes” by the fire pit, trying to break the state record for biggest pumpkin, chasing down deer and black bears on his four wheeler, cheering on the West Virginia Mountaineers in football and basketball, attending NASCAR races with family and friends, and debating the absolute heck with anyone on any given topic. Doug is survived by his daughter Angela Basham-Callaway and her husband Slick Callaway of Shady Spring and his son Marc Basham of Idaho Falls, ID. He is also survived by his sister Frances Kelly, brother Gary Basham, sisters-in-law Betty Basham and Myrtle Basham, and nieces and nephews Don Kelly, Donnie Basham, Michael Kelly, Leanna Flemming, Patty Kelly, Kelly Brogan, Susan Basham, Mark Basham, and Espy Lytle. He is preceded in his death by his wife of 50 years Linda Basham, his parents Anna and McKinley Basham, his mother-in-law Willie Mae Cole and her husband Frank Cole, and his brothers Ivan Basham, Austin Basham, J.R. Basham, and Donald Ray Basham. Funeral Service will be held at Open Door Church-Shady Springs, WV on Monday, November 20, 2017 at 12:00PM Visitation for family and friends will be two hours prior to service time at the church. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.blueridgefuneralhome.com