A.C. "Red" Basham

A.C. "Red"

Basham

TOLEDO BEND, LA - A.C. "Red" Basham passed away Thursday, September 1, 2011, at the Grace Home in Shreveport, LA. A private service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date. He was born April 23, 1928 in Springhill, LA to Irvin and Dora Taylor Basham.

During his career with Dowell Chemical Company and Acid Engineering, he was an early pioneer of the "fracturing" process. He came through the "school of hard knocks" working 24/7. Red retired with his late wife, Margaret, or Blue, as she was called to a small house on Toledo Bend where he could finally enjoy himself. That's about the same time his imagination took off. The almost 50 years that Red spent in the rough and tumble oil field industry didn't help since he used abbreviations on his reports and depended upon a secretary to decipher them. Red's love of books and writing was not something cultivated in early life. He admits he never really learned to read or write, even though he graduated from Fair Park High School. Red longed for a computer, and after saving up extra money from his "Mr. Fix-it" jobs he bought one. That's when his writing took off. He could not spell worth a darn and could only type with his left index finger, but Red has a claim to fame not shared by many. He was a published author.

His wife, Margaret Nell Basham, parents, sister, Melba Gibbons, and brother, Irvin "Buddy" Basham, preceded Red in death. Beautiful memories will be shared by his daughter, Peggy Payne and husband, Brad of Ft. Myers, FL; sons, Jimmy Basham and wife, Madelyn of Daphne, AL and David Basham of Bossier City, LA; sisters, Betty Basham of San Antonio, TX, Delores Guy of Albequerque, NM, Janie Busenburg of Sun City, AZ and Carlene Carnivale of Bossier City, LA; twin brother, A.D. Basham of Bossier City, LA; five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; his best friend, John Anderson; and devoted friend and companion, Dayna Yadell.

Memorials may be made to the Grace Home or Sabine Parish Humane Society.