Roma Lorine (Mains) Bassett

Roma Lorine (Mains) Bassett, 96, passed away on February 25, 2023, at Woodlands Creek Senior Living in Clive, Iowa.

Roma was born to William Austin Mains and Ruby Grace (Hiscocks) Mains on September 15, 1926, in her parents’ farmhouse in Guthrie County, Iowa. She attended a one-room school, Thompson No. 7, from 1st thru 8th grade, and in 1943, at age 16, graduated salutatorian from Casey High School. She then attended The American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines.

Roma was united in marriage to Glen Earl Bassett, her high school sweetheart, on August 27, 1947, in the United Methodist church in Casey, Iowa. To this union 2 children were born – Michael Allan and Joan Lynn.

After attending AIB, Roma worked in Des Moines at Allen and Company, a Certified Public Accounting firm. She worked in the Administrative Office and the Treasury Office at the University of Iowa in Iowa City while Glen was attending the university. She was a wonderful full-time mom while Mike and Joan were growing up. Later she worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce in Little Rock, Arkansas.

In Des Moines, Roma was an officer in the Jayceettes and in Little Rock was President of the Women’s Association of First Presbyterian Church and President of the Wives of the National Association of Accountants.

Roma loved the Lord. She was an active church member and attended Bible studies everywhere she lived. She loved music (big band, Gaithers, and gospel), reading (the Bible, mysteries, and biographies), watching movies (mysteries and musicals), ballroom dancing, playing bridge, traveling, golf, sudoku and especially being with her family. She was dearly loved by her family, both immediate and extended.

She is survived by her son, Michael (Kathy) Bassett; daughter, Joan (Ray) McCallum; 5 grandchildren, Kelli (Tim) Lyon, Jon (Jackie) Bassett, William Bassett, Matthew (Katylin) McCallum, and Mark (Taylor) McCallum; 7 great-grandchildren, Noelle Lyon, Isaac Lyon, Wesley Lyon, Grace Lyon, Olivia Bassett, Owen Bassett, and Levi McCallum; and sisters-in-law, Myrna Whetstone and Darlene Bassett.

Roma was preceded in death by her loving husband of 74 years; her parents; 2 sisters, Virginia Kading and Betty Tracy; a brother, William Mains; 3 sisters-in-law, Janet Mains, Vina Mains, and Esther Bassett; and 5 brothers-in-law: Donald Kading, William Tracy, Merle Bassett, Dean Bassett, and Max Whetstone.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023, at Westkirk Presbyterian Church, 2700 Colby Woods Drive, Urbandale, Iowa. Following the service and reception at Westkirk, burial will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Casey, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed to Westkirk Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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