Tharon Floyd 'Ted' Baskett

Tharon Floyd “Ted” Basket was born June 26, 1930 in his family home on South Washington Street in Cortez, CO. His father built this home. It was the beginning of a lifelong relationship for both father and son with building and woodworking.
Ted was the third child and only son born to Floyd Edward Baskett and Fern Emma (McBroom) Baskett. He had two older sisters, Frances Lovena and Shirley Ilene. They were the usual targets of Ted, who loved playing jokes on people, usually by scaring them. He would hide under their beds when they came home from activities or dates and grab their ankles when they got into bed. They said that after a few times of this “joke,” they would make running leaps to reach their beds and they continued to do this for several years after they moved away from home!
Ted and his family moved quite often as his father looked for work during the Great Depression. Some of the places they lived were around the Los Angeles, CA area and Salt Lake City and Provo, UT. Ted said he never liked moving because as “the new kid” he always had to fight the other boys before he was accepted. He remembered his mother boiling water and putting it in canning jars wrapped with towels to keep him warm at night as they often camped while moving from place to place. He said he was in trouble more than once for kicking an ice-cold jar of water, sometimes ice, out of his bed when he woke up in the morning.
When Ted’s family moved back to Cortez during his high school years, he decided that Cortez was where he wanted to stay put. He never moved again. After graduation Ted worked with his father building many houses and shops around the Cortez area. He continued with his work until he was drafted by the army and sent to a base in Japan during the Korean War. Ted was always a great storyteller and he shared many stories about life in Japan including the people, the language, the food, the countryside, and the ocean. One of his mother’s greatest treasures was a set of hand-painted china he sent her from Japan. He later made her a beautiful china cabinet to keep it in.
When Ted returned from Japan, he met his future wife, Barbara Minnie Bertrand. They were married February 22, 1956. They were married for 60 years. Their first child, Vicki Dianne, was born December 28, 1956. Her sister, Donna Kathleen, was born April 8, 1959. Bradley Don was born October 8, 1964. The two houses Ted build for his family were the only houses they ever lived in.
His children remember many camping and fishing trips, mostly to Trout Lake and the Burro Bridge campground above Dunton. Ted was a “river fisherman” and would hike down the West Fork of the Dolores River, across steep inclines, through impenetrable willows and back and forth across the river with his children trying to follow.
Ted and Barbara were so happy when grandchildren joined the family. They spent so much time teaching them to golf, bowl, playing all types of games, and taking them to all of the new movies.
Ted took such good care of Barbara when her health began to fail. They both insisted she stay in her home during her last months. Ted missed her terribly when she passed, and spoke of her and her wonderful qualities often. He especially missed her cooking.
Ted had so many interests and talents. He loved documentaries about animals and nature. He was an archery hunter, a kayak expert, even building his own kayak. He loved to golf and go bowling. He and Barbara played card games together and with their friends throughout their marriage. Hours upon hours were spent working on genealogy and temple work for his relatives. He was an active member of the Cortez LDS Church until his health began to fail.
Ted eventually narrowed down his job expertise to custom cabinetry. He formed his own company, B.F. Millwork (Baskett Family) and did work for schools, hospitals, banks, churches, and individuals who had specific requests. Brad, his son, worked with him while he lived at home and has become quite talented in this area as well.
Among the many ways Ted shared his talents with others was to build cedar chests for his daughters, bedroom sets for his children and wife, and custom cabinets for many. He even built a life size (for Barbie) doll house for his great granddaughter.
Ted left to join Barbara on December 19, 2021. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; his parents; his sisters; and a grandson, Randon Archibeque. He is survived by his children, Vicki (Bob) Archibeque, Kathy Stanley, Brad (Desi) Baskett; seven grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
There will be a life celebration held in the summer to celebrate Ted and his long (91 years) and wonderful life.