Frederick Scott Bassett

Lakeland, Florida - Mr. Frederick Scott Bassett died Sunday, September 5, 2021, at his home in Lakeland, Polk County, Florida following a brief illness. He was 84 years old. He was born in Chattahoochee, Gadsden County, Florida on September 24, 1936, to Fred Washington Bassett and Ealise Grant Bassett. A fourth generation Floridian, his paternal family were land grant pioneers in Jackson and Gadsden Counties, coming from Bibb County, Georgia in the late 1840's shortly after Florida became a state. His 7th great grandfather emigrated from England to the Colonies prior to the American Revolutionary War. His family traces back to the Munster region of lreland. Mr. Bassett graduated from Chattahoochee High School in 1954, and the University of Virginia in 1958, with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, and was a lifetime enthusiast of all things UVA. GOWAHOOS! Following graduation from UVA, he served in the United States Army at White Sands Missile Range. Mr. Bassett moved to Lakeland from Tampa in 1965. He married Kathy Kennedy on February 20, 1989 in Lakeland. He worked for over 40 years for Caterpillar dealer's Rozier Machinery and Ring Power Corp. in Polk County. He was Vice President and Regional Manager for the Mulberry Branch of Ring Power Corp. prior to his retirement in 2009. He always maintained that he had the best job in the world and was blessed with lifelong friends that he met through his work. Scott loved the water and could often be found sailing on Crooked Lake or tooling the waters around Davis Islands and Tampa Bay in his classic and prized Boston Whaler. Following his retirement, he and Kathy, and the pups enjoyed years of traveling in their motor home. He had his favorite sites all lined up on the east coast from St. Augustine to Maine, based on his favorite seafood restaurants. Scott will always be alive in the minds, in the hearts, in the memories of those he left behind. Nothing can fill the place he leaves in our hearts. He is survived by his wife Kathy Kennedy Bassett, brothers John Bassett, (Euglenia) of Tallahassee, and Jim Bassett, (Keri) of Quincy, Florida, sister Carol Carter of Tallahassee, Florida. He is preceded by his parents, his brother Bobby Bassett of Pensacola and his sister Betty Sue Weeks of Sneads, Florida. He is also survived by his much cherished pups Maggie and Sister Baby. Memorials may be made to the University of Virginia or a charity of your choice.