Basel Cassidy, Sr., 81, of Beaumont died Saturday, January 30, 2010, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont.

He was born August 18, 1928, in Singer, Louisiana to George Henry and Andora (Miers) Cassidy. A resident of the Beaumont area since 1944, he graduated as valedictorian from Singer High School. A rate clerk with Kansas City Southern Railway, he retired following forty-two years of service. He was known as “Bashful Basel”, lead singer with Jimmy and Richard Russell and band, which got together on Sunday afternoons and played on KBMT Radio Station in the early 1950’s.  He also participated and placed in several writing contests in the Golden Triangle Writer’s Guild and over the years wrote numerous letters to editor with the Beaumont Enterprise and Journal.

Basel enjoyed gardening and had several interests such as dance, music and writing.

Survivors include his wife, Elnora Cassidy; children, Diana Tolar and her husband Bill, Daren Cassidy and his wife Donna, Jennie LeBlanc and her husband Joe, Cindy Lute and her husband Rick, Basel Cassidy, Jr. and his wife Ruthanne, Tammy Guilhas and her husband Gary, and Kathy Brown and her husband Jason; step-daughters, Jackie Ceballos and her husband Max, Tina Carillo and her husband David, Becky Blanchard and her husband Curtis, and Lisa Garnett and her husband Ray;  twenty-seven grandchildren; thirty-one great grandchildren; brothers, Berlin Cassidy and his wife Ada, Tamas Cassidy and his wife Pamela and Lotus Cassidy and his wife Kim; and sisters, Krste Allison, Krshna Airey and her husband Kenneth Hobbs; and Donna Wright and her husband Bobby.

Basel was preceded in death by his parents, Andora and George Cassidy; brothers, Cicero and Omar; half-brother, George; and half-sister, Betty Williams.

His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at Broussard’s, 1605 N. Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow at Haven of Rest Cemetery in Beaumont.  A gathering of his family and friends will be Monday, February 1, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Broussard’s.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 N. Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713 or Parkinson’s Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, Florida  33136.

The family wishes to express their thanks to the staff at Intrepid; Harbor Hospice House; shepherdess, Linda Rink of Wesley United Methodist Church;  caregiver, Mary Cane; Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Sweet,  and Dr. Punay.