Katherine Lynn Basel

Katherine “Kathy” Lynn Basel, 63, passed away on November 29, 2023. She was the daughter of Thornton Akin and Susan Vaughan Burns, Jr., of Forsyth, GA.

Kathy was born in Augsburg, Germany in 1960 and moved often as an Army child, growing up in Germany, Kansas, Georgia, and Thailand, among other places. She spent many years on-and-off in Forsyth, GA, where she graduated from Monroe Academy in 1978 and attended Tift College. She met her husband, Craig Basel, in 1979 while in Helsinki, Finland and was married in March of 1980. Several more moves followed, this time as a Marine Corps wife, to Scotland, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where she and her family spent nineteen exciting years, before returning to Georgia: first to Richmond Hill and finally back to Forsyth this year. She loved exploring new places and visiting historic sites, and held a deep love of reading and history, particularly surrounding World War II, Anne Frank, and the local history of each place she lived.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Craig Basel; children, Christian Basel, Dallas, TX; Nick Basel (Emily Kitterman), Atlanta, GA; Katie Basel (Curt Timma) Richmond Hill, GA; beloved grandchildren Austin and Ellie Sue Timma; uncle J. Frank Vaughan (Sue), Forsyth, GA; and cousins Mackenzie Rosser (Elton), Forsyth, GA, and Meredith Kurtzahn (Mike), Cumming, GA.

Kathy was baptized and lived her life in the Christian faith. She had a wonderful skillset for sewing, knitting, crochet, and cross stich – which she used to give her family many wonderful costumes, blankets, and hand sewn gifts; and embroidery, in which she ran her own small business. She was particularly fond of Christmas and her family’s tradition around ‘stockings’ which always joyously overflowed. She loved collecting and antiquing, word games, and was proud of her organized collection of family postcards dating back over a hundred years. She also loved decorating and design and had a sharp eye for color, which she poured into the recent remodel of her home, personally overseeing the design, painting, and finishing. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren and took joy in following their lives and interests and most of all their time visiting at home.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, December 5^th, at 2:00 PM in the Forsyth City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation of books to your local children’s hospital or library.

Kathy will be profoundly missed.

Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to express your condolences.

Monroe County Memorial Chapel 86 West Main Street Forsyth has charge of the arrangements.