OPAL BASHAM

SIKESTON -- Opal M. Basham, 86, of Sikeston, died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1993, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis.

She was born Dec. 10, 1906, in New Madrid, daughter of Benjamin S. and Mary Jane Hart Mason. She and Charles Howard Basham were married Dec. 1, 1927, in Charleston. He died April 26, 1939.

Basham was a former chief telephone operator at Stix, Baer and Fuller in St. Louis. She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and American Legion Auxiliary in Sikeston.

Survivors include a son, Roland Basham of Sikeston; a brother, Henry Mason of Sikeston; four sisters, Georgia Badart of Sikeston, Marguerite Cockman of Paducah, Ky., Kathleen Babcock of Paragould, Ark., Tempie Johnson of New Madrid; three grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

She was preceded in death by a brother.

Funeral srvice will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Church, with Msgr. William Stanton officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery at New Madrid.

Friends may call at Nunnelee Funeral Home after 5 p.m. today. A prayer service will be held at 7.