Carol Ann Basey

Carol Ann Basey, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away July 7, 2025, in hospice care at Community Hospital East. She was 82.

Carol was born March 25, 1943, in Scottsburg, Indiana, to Larman Frank “L.F.” Manthei and Alma Mae (Bixler) Manthei. A bright spirit from the start, she grew up with a deep love for music, dance, and laughter — passions that would carry her through life and touch everyone who knew her.

She graduated from Warren Central High School in 1961, where she sang with the school’s Madrigal singers and met her first husband, Edward Bradley. Together, they had four daughters: Toni Ann (1962), Cynthia Ann (1964), Deborah Ann (1968), and Theresa Ann (1970), who was born prematurely and passed in infancy.

After Edward’s untimely death in 1971, Carol courageously carried forward as a devoted mother and eventually found love again. She married Robert Earl Basey in 1977 in Reno, Nevada, and together they built a life filled with family, laughter, and shared adventures. Carol wore many hats — as a Girl Scout troop leader, room mother, PTA mom, avid bowler, reader and even an Avon lady in the '80s. She was a lifelong learner and dedicated DIY'er, qualities shown to her by her jack-of-all-trades father. She once took a course on automotive repair in order to rebuild an engine. She also had a lifelong love of science fiction, proudly claiming equal devotion to both Star Wars and Star Trek. She had an unmatched ability to pack her black leather fanny pack — her "purse” — with anything anyone might need and could recite its contents by heart.

Professionally, she worked for many years as a hot foods manager at Marsh Supermarkets, all while playing a hands-on role in raising her six grandchildren, who knew her simply and affectionately as “Nanny.” Nanny took joy in creating magical memories with her grandchildren, whether on trips to Kings Island, Disneyland, or quirky destinations like the Jelly Belly Factory.

Family vacations were a hallmark of Carol’s mothering. She would pile her daughters into a station wagon each summer and head west to California to see her parents, visiting theme parks and roadside Americana like Frontier Village, Sea World, Marriott’s Great America, Old Town Sacramento, Fisherman’s Wharf and the Winchester Mystery House. Her station wagon-driving skills were legendary. So was her love of fireworks and sweets, especially chocolate.

Carol brought joy, laughter, and a little mischief to every room she entered. She was a master of silliness, a keeper of traditions, and a woman whose strength, warmth, and humor will be remembered by all who loved her.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Basey; her daughters Toni Ann Nield, Cynthia Ann Kukman, and Deborah Ann Bradley (Melanie),step son Keith Basey; six grandchildren, including her beloved grandchildren Jackie Nield, Haley Smith, Joe Kukman, Jeremy Kukman,  Stephanie Kukman, and Jessica Nield; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Frank Manthei and Carl Manthei; several nieces and nephews, including Loretta Dodson, whom she helped raise.

Carol’s presence was a gift, and her memory will continue to dance in our hearts. She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, first husband and nephew John Manthei.

A private viewing will be held on Saturday, July 12, at Flanner Buchanan Washington Park East. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk Team Carol B 1943 at http://www.kidneywalk.org/socal/carolb1943. The team's goal is to raise a dollar for every hour Carol spent on dialysis.