Horace Clay Bassett

Horace Clay Bassett, age 79, of Citronelle, AL died Monday, March 23, 2009, at his residence. In his early years, Clay was in boxing and baseball leagues in the Mobile and became a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army. After returning from duty, Clay began working with Southern Bell as a lineman. Shortly after he began individual contracting with the local oil field and later encroached into home and commercial contracting. Clay owned Bassett Ford, Ace Hardware, apartment complexes and many other small businesses throughout the years. To say he was a visionary would certainly be an understatement. Clay was currently the CEO of The Citmed Corporation and had been since 1986. He was an active real estate developer and served as a financial guidance counselor to many prospecting entrepreneurs. An avid civic leader, Clay was a member of the Kiwanis Club and Junior Chamber of Commerce. Clay served on the Citronelle City Council for four years and as Mayor of Citronelle for twenty years. He served on the Citronelle Water & Sewer Board for seven years and was founder and a director of South Alabama Utilities. Clay was a member of First Baptist Church - Citronelle and served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Finance Chairman and Sunday School Superintendent. He is preceded in death by his brother, Frank Bassett. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Ruth Jones Bassett of Citronelle; Two Sons, Charlie (Terry) Bassett of Fairhope and John C. (Charmaine) Bassett of Citronelle; One Brother, Jimmy (Louise) Bassett of Austin, TX; Four Grandchildren, John Clay (Julie) Bassett, II, (Todd) Elizabeth Bassett McCain, (D.J.) Maree Bassett Landrum and Stefan (Kari) Glover; Six Great Grandchildren, Farrah, Jackson, Aynsley, AnnaBeth, Anderson and Baxter. A wake will be held from 6 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at First Baptist Church - Citronelle where the funeral service will be held at 2PM on Thursday, March 26, 2009. Interment will be at Pine Crest Cemetery in Citronelle. Freeman Funeral Home - Citronelle