Joseph Eliot Bassett

Joseph Eliot Bassett passed away on October 26, 2018 at St. Mary Medical Center surround by his family.

Joseph was born on May 18, 1952, in Walla Walla, the youngest of two children of Betty Ann Bassett and Joseph Eliot Bassett, Sr.

He attended Edison Elementary Grade School, and he graduated from Roseburg High School, (OR) in 1970.  He attended Stanford University, 1971 to 1973, and then enrolled in the Naval Aviation Academy 1974-75.  He completed his Bachelor of Science in Fine and Preforming Arts at Southern Oregon State College, Ashland, OR in 1991.  In the fall of 1993, he enrolled in Puget Sound University, School of Law, (later, to be) Seattle University, School of Law, where he graduated, in 1995 with a Juris Doctor.

While in college, he worked as a ski Instructor, help restore (Frank Lloyd Wright) and manage a B&B, and later co- opened Jasmine’s Bistro and Sidewalk Café, Ashland, OR, 1983-1989. He managed Ashland Hotel, in Ashland, OR., 1990-1991.  Prior to law school, he worked as a bartender/assistant manager, at Arrow Point Resort, Coeur d’ Alene, ID.  Upon graduating from law school, Joe practiced Tax Law, in Tacoma, WA.  from 1996 to 2013.  Joe and Kathy moved to Walla Walla in 2013, he continued his practice of Tax Law and started Chez Joe’s Catering. Joe married Kathleen Ann Casteel, August 24, 1996, in Walla Walla.

As a child, Joe was a catcher on the Walla Walla Little League, and later Pony League.  Joe always had a love of other people and nature.  He was in his “element” in the outdoors. He loved skiing, camping, hiking, backpacking, birdwatching, target shooting, baseball, golf, gardening, foraging for mushrooms and cooking.  Joe also had a love of music and theater, and his beloved ‘basset hounds’, but fly fishing brought him the most joy.  He learned to fish on the shoulders of his maternal grandfather at the age of four.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his mother, Betty Bassett, maternal aunt, Winnie Hooker, and paternal aunt, Mary Grace Bassett, first cousins; Dean Hooker (Debbie), James Hooker (Jan), and Laurie Clifton,  second cousins; Jane Baffney (Tom), Elizabeth Matschukat (Hans), and Peggy Wilcox (Terry), brothers in law; Ben Casteel (Helene), Marvin Casteel, sisters in law; Mary Casteel, Jeannie Wickman (Curt), Carol Frick, (Warren), Nancy Cuppy (Bron); extended family, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Eliot Bassett, and sister, Judy Selden Bassett.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at the Walla Walla Country Club on Saturday, November 24, 2018 from 1-3pm.