Mickey Marie Bassman

Mickey Marie Bassman, 69, of Othello died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at the Avalon Care Center in Othello.

Mickey was born in Brawley, Calif., on June 8, 1937 to Irvin and Hazel Wallace. She graduated from Reno High School in 1955 and in 1956 she was the Reno Rodeo Queen. Later that year she met Wayne Bassman and they married in Reno on April 6, 1957.

Wayne and Mickey traveled extensively as ranchers and horsemen, throughout California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington. In 1984, they were asked to go to Saudi Arabia to assist with farming there. They were in Saudi Arabia for a year and a half, returning to Oregon then settling in the Spokane area for six years. In 1994, they moved to Othello where Mickey worked for Scab Rock Feed Lot and then as an Othello School District bus driver, a job she was forced to leave in 2004 for health reasons.

Mickey's passions were her family, horses, and all other animals. From the time she could walk Mickey was riding horses. In high school Mickey was involved in rodeo, competing in team roping, barrel racing and pole bending. She was a thoroughbred and quarter horse jockey, she ran mustangs in Nevada, and was a member of the AQHA and the APHA. Later in life, she acted as a 4-H leader for her children, where she expected excellence and often had them ride bareback if they did not do it right in a saddle. She was an accomplished farrier.

She is survived by her husband Wayne of Othello; her daughter Kathy and son-in-law Richard Webley of Spokane; her son Rob and his significant partner Rita of Blackfoot, Idaho; her brothers Bill Wallace of Chico, California and Bud Wallace of Kiowa, Colorado; and her four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

At her request memorial services will be held later this year in Nevada. Remembrances are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Mickey was a great wife, mother and grandmother. She will be missed by all of those that loved her and knew her. She will always be in our hearts.

Cremation is under the direction of Stevens Funeral Chapel in Othello.