Wanda Rose Yates (Bassett)

Wanda was born - August 22, 1931, on a Saturday, at noon, in Van Buren, Arkansas. Wanda was the only child of her mother, Zena Coleman.

She moved to Fort Smith, Ark. at age 4. She attended Parker Elementary School, and Fort Smith Jr. and Senior High Schools. While in school she took baton lessons and played clarinet in the school band.

In 1951, Wanda married Ralph Edward Bassett, (April 4, 1926 - Oct. 13, 1991) of North Adams, Mass. They soon moved to California where they had 7 children - David Edward Bassett, Nancy Ellen Bassett (Savia), Susan Gwen Bassett (Stephens), Kathy Frances Bassett (Bankston), Gary Dale Bassett, Cheryl Lynn Bassett (Snyder), and Stanley Alan Bassett (who died shortly after birth). In addition to her seven children, Wanda was also proud of her 14 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

Wanda was a seamstress most of her life. She enjoyed spending time with her family, friends and neighbors. She was a mentor to many of her grandchildren and they loved her so.

Wanda married Willie Yates in 1977. They enjoyed camping and fishing and time together and with family until Willie's passing in August of 1986.

After her kids were grown, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she spent most of her retirement years, enjoying her new home, traveling and vacationing with her cousin, Dorothy Honeck. They enjoyed taking cruises and loved traveling the USA together. She spent time with her daughter Cheryl and son-in-law Michael and the grandkids. With such a large family there was always someone coming to visit her from out-of-state. We Miss you, Mom.