Billy Dee Baskett

Billy Dee Baskett, 75, of Stephenville, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2024 in Stephenville.

Funeral services for Billy will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 23rd at Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel with David Baskett and David Bearden officiating.  Burial will follow at West End Cemetery.  Visitation with the Basket family will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday, January 22nd at Stephenville Funeral Home

Billy Dee Baskett was born February 8, 1948 in Cleburne, Texas to David (Dee) and Mary Lee Barker Baskett.

Billy attended grade school and Jr. High in Cleburne, then moved to Stephenville in June 1962 so his older sister Melissa could attend Tarleton State College on a full scholarship.

Billy attended high school in Stephenville, graduating in May 1966. While in high school, he served as president of the distributive education club. During his senior year, Billy won the state contest with the highest score in all 3A in the job interview competition.

Billy also played baseball for SHS during his sophomore year.

After graduation, he attended Tarleton State College where he majored in business administration and criminal justice.

Billy served in the U.S. Army in 1969 before coming home to work for the Stephenville Police Department. Billy served as a Stephenville police officer and EMT from 1970-1975 and was a member of the Erath County Sheriff’s Department in 1976.

Billy would then work several jobs over the next couple of years before going to work for Brown and Root in 1978 where he was a health and safety manager.

His career with Brown and Root took him all over the world including Hungry, Croatia, Bosnia, Nigeria, Kuwait, Iraq, and Kosovo also Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, New York, Kentucky, New Jersey, California and Alabama.

He retired in 2015.

Billy is survived by his sister Melissa Burke of Stephenville, son David Baskett and wife Nicole Baskett, grandchildren Piper Baskett and Gavin Baskett, brother-in-law Roger Pack and wife Bonnie of Stephenville, brother-in-law Billy McDonald of Stephenville, niece Shanna Mankin and husband Reuben Mankin of McKinney, niece Ashli McDonald of Houston and niece Janae Smith and husband Chris Smith of Stephenville.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Jay and Lola Pack, brother-in-law Frank Burke, sister-in-law Norma Jane McDonald and nephew Brent Pack.

The Baskett family wish expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to either the Stephenville Police Dept., Stephenville Fire Dept, or the Park and Recreations Dept.  MAKE CHECKS TO THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, AND IN THE MEMO LINE NOTE THE DEPT FOR WHICH THE DONATION IS TO BE GIVEN TO.