Fern was born on July 28, 1921, in Waseca, Minnesota to Roy and Ann Carleton. Her family celebrated the birth of Fern’s beloved brother, Clyde, in 1934. They overcame the challenges of WWI, the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, and WWII.
In 1939 Fern graduated from high school and moved to Chicago, where she attended business school. She worked at the Eberhardt Company in Minneapolis and later at First Mortgage in Houston, where she met Dick Basden. They were married in 1956 and on July 3, 1962, celebrated the birth of their son, Bryan.
They lived on Checkerboard Street for 22 years. One of Fern’s most treasured memories were visits with her brother Clyde, his wife Sue, and their children—Scott, Brett, Greg, and Jane—who grew up alongside Bryan.
Fern was a lifelong member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church and served with the Couples Club. She and Dick moved to Townhouse Manor five minutes after Bryan left for college. Years after the passing of Dick in 1989, Fern moved to Bayou Manor, where she continued to flourish as an independent woman for the remainder of her life.
She enjoyed watching her family grow and spent much of her time teaching her grandchildren and grand-nieces/nephews to be card sharks like herself. Her business acumen was beyond that of many trained professionals. Fern is known for her immense generosity to both family and countless charities.
Fern’s legacy continues through her son Bryan, his wife Ann, and her four precious grandchildren: Samuel, Susanna, Nicholas, and Christopher; and her many beloved nieces, nephews, and their children in the Carleton and Basden families. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dick, her brother, Clyde, and her nephew, Glenn. She was and continues to be loved by many friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Fern’s memory to Texas Children’s Hospital.
A visitation for Fern will be held Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 5315 Main Street, Houston, TX 77004.
A funeral service will occur Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, 5315 Main Street, Houston, TX 77004.
A reception will occur Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at St. Matthew Lutheran Church Hall, 5315 Main Street, Houston, TX 77004.
A committal service will occur Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Brookside Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.settegastkopf.com for the Basden family.
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