LaWanda Curtis Baskette

LaWanda Curtis Baskette, 91, of Kingsport, Tennessee went to her heavenly home on August 12, 2018 in Kingsport at Preston Place Assisted Living Facility.
A native of Greene County, LaWanda was the daughter of the late Hobart and Crissie Baxter Curtis. She was a graduate of Doak High School in Greene County, Tennessee. Education was important to her and valued her entire life. She began college at Berea College in Kentucky, graduated with her undergraduate degree from Tusculum College in education, and received her master's degree in Library Science at East Tennessee State University. Her career as an educator lead to her teaching in the classroom and/or serving as a librarian at Doak High School in Tusculum, Powell High School in Knoxville, Tennessee and she finished her career at John Sevier Junior High in Kingsport, Tennessee. LaWanda had a big heart and gave much of her time and resources to her church, schools, associations, and family. In addition to her years in several school systems, she was a member of Lovelace Baptist Church in Greene County. There she served as a teacher, librarian, and treasurer. She held offices for several teacher organizations including Alpha Delta Kappa, Kingsport Education Association, and Kingsport Retired Teachers.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter D. Baskette, her sister and husband, Edna C. Purvis and Robert Bird Purvis, and her brother-in-law Rev. J. Garland Thayer.
Survivors include a sister, Jean Curtis Thayer of Gray, TN , sister-in-law Norma Bacon of Fall Branch, TN, a step son and family, Bill Baskette (Melissa) of Fall Branch, TN, grandchildren Carly Johnson (Kirk) of Knoxville, and Will Baskette of New Bern, NC, one great grandchild Cora Johnson, seven nephews and nieces: Dr. Robert Purvis (Theresa) of Rogersville; Ellen Purvis Abernathy (Joe) of Knoxville; Calvin Purvis (Ann) of Kingsport; Trygve Thayer (Tracy) of Dunnville, KY; Travis Thayer (Penny) of Gray; Laura Thayer Evans (Mike) of Johnson City; David Thayer (Valerie) of Knoxville, TN; nine great nephews and nieces: Colston Abernathy, Anne Abernathy, Jennifer Thayer, Michael Thayer, Austin Thayer (Laura), Lindsay Thayer, Brady Thayer, Brooke Thayer, and David Evans; one grandniece Amelia Thayer, and her dear friend Linda Gray of Limestone, TN.
The family wants to send their gratitude to Preston Place Assisted Living, Hospice, and her special caregivers who loved her like their own: Ir-Wauna McCaleb, JiMeecia Kyle, Ammie Williams, Lisa McNeely, Courtney McNeely and Kayla McNeely.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 19 at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home in Kingsport, Tennessee. A celebration of life will follow with The Rev. Joe Wall and Rev. Allen Brummett officiating.
Burial will follow at Lovelace Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers are: Bill Baskette, Robert Purvis, Calvin Purvis, Trygve Thayer, Travis Thayer, David Thayer, Michael Thayer, and David Evans. Honorary pallbearers Austin Thayer, Brady Thayer, Mike Evans, Joe Abernathy, Colston Abernathy, and Will Baskette.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donations to made to Lovelace Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, Kingsport Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund, or Alpha Delta Kappa, Zeta Chapter Scholarship Fund.