It is with overwhelming sorrow that we announce the passing of William Bassford on Friday, May 26, 2017 in Scottsdale, AZ.Surrounded by his loving family, he succumbed to complications due to pneumonia.Bill, as he was known to most, was born on December 18, 1927 to Oscar and Juanita Bassford, in Roswell, NM. The eldest ofwhat would be three children, Bill's early years were spent in Ft. Stanton, NM where his father was serving as Chief Engineer of steam engineswith the Merchant Marines. After the unexpected death of Oscar, and Bill only two, the family moved to Lincoln, NM. It was herethat Bill would spawn his "craving" for basketball. He would go on to star for his high school team in Capitan, NM, as well as letter infootball. While a senior in high school, he was pressed into action as a school bus driver along with his Principal. This activity would benefithim later down the line.Upon graduation in 1946, Bill enlisted into the US Air Force, or Army Air Corp as it was known then. Bill would be deployed toYokata Air Base, in Fussa, Japan. Here, Sergeant Bassford would serve as radar specialist aboard B29 bombers, flying harrowing recon-nasaince missions over Korea, often surviving episodes of defensive shell shrapnel.After his honorable discharge in 1949, Bill returned to the States to join his widowed mother and siblings in Alamogordo, NM. Itwas here that he would meet "the most beautiful woman in the world", Ernestina Garcia. Even the sound of her name is captivating!In April of 1951, Bill and Ernestine were wed in La Luz, NM. Bill had already begun, what would become a long, and illustrious career with Civil Ser-vice at White Sands Missile Range. Shortly after the birth of their first child, Gary, in June of 1952, the family moved to Las Cruces, NM. Over the span of the next nineteen years, Bill and Ernestine would birth, raise and nurture five more children...Darlene, Brian, Ronald, Charles, and the youngest, Julie.Though modest in income, Bill never left his children and wife wanting. He and Ernestine bestowed and instilled their traits oflove, support, encouragement, and devotion unconditionally. Bill was a meticulous man. Whether it was following directions to the T ("They're in there for a reason"), or refusing to deviate from recipe ingredients and measurements. No one made a better meatloaf than he did! Bill loved the outdoors! Countless trips were made with the family throughout the western half of this country. He always relished capturing these adventures on film (8mm) or snapshots. His eyes and heart filled with joy when replaying these events during gatherings, or even alone with his wife. He so loved his wife Ernestine of 66 years of marriage! Always gleaming as he gazed upon her...relishing her touch...doing his very best to express his love through his gift of words in cards or letters. She was his world to the end! Bill's life...well done! Bill is survived by his wife, Ernestine, sons Gary Bassford (Jennifer), Brian Bassford (Amy), Ronald Bassford (Michelle), Charles Bassford(Linda), daughters Darlene Short (Cory), Julie Salas (Jesus), grandchildren Damon, Gabe (Daisy), Stephanie (Steven), Desarae, Jacob, Austin,Brooke, David, Eric, Brayden, and Noah, great-grandchildren Salene, Zoey, Jordan, Leo, Isaiah, Jacob, and Adrian. He is preceded in death by father Oscar, mother Juanita, brother Bobby, sister Mary, granddaughters Jessica and Alexis.A special thanks is expressed from Bill's family to the staff and doctors of Honor Health, Thompson Peak in Scottsdale, AZ for the careand comfort given Bill, and the comfort of the entire family.A visitation for Bill will be at Baca's Funeral Chapel of Las Cruces on Sunday, June 4th at 5pm with a Rosary at 6pm. The funeral masswill be held at the Cathedral of Immaculate Heart of Mary, 1240 S. Espina on Monday, June 5th, at 10am. Burial will follow at Hillcrest MemorialGardens. Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapel of Las Cruces, 527-2222. For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com