Gregory George Bassett

Gregory George "Greg" Bassett, 86, of Belleview, Florida, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2026, surrounded by the love of a family he spent a lifetime building.

Born on February 29, 1940 — a Leap Year birthday that always made him just a little bit unique — Greg grew up in Michigan, the son of the late Marguerite Adella (Bailey) Bassett and Eldridge Leo Bassett. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sandra Marie Bassett.

Greg is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Maureen Bassett (Zopf); his sister, Debra Sargent and her husband, Todd; his sons, Brent Bassett and his wife, Jennifer, Gregory Bassett, Jr. and his wife, Elaine, and Mark Bassett and his wife, Krista; his grandchildren, Gregory, Nash, Brady, Connor, Ruby, Ava, and Emily; and his great-grandchildren, Magnolia, Marigold, and Penelope.

Greg proudly served in the United States Army as an SP4 Clerk Typist, with duty in Korea and later at 5th Army Headquarters in Chicago. It was there, in the middle of his service to his country, that he met Maureen — a meeting that would shape the rest of his life in the best possible way.

After his military service, Greg built a long and deeply respected career at the Budd Company. He entered through the apprenticeship program, earned his place as a Tool and Die Maker, and through sheer determination and a remarkable capacity for self-teaching, worked his way into the engineering department — a path carved not by credentials, but by ability.

His practical understanding of how production lines actually worked earned him the admiration of colleagues and engineers alike. He had no shortage of stories about helping younger engineers understand the difference between how things looked on paper and how they had to work in the real world.

Outside of work, Greg had a full and joyful life. He loved golf, playing cards, and a stiff drink, but most of all, he loved people. He never met a stranger for long. He was the kind of man who could walk into a room and leave it brighter — through conversation, through laughter, and through the kind of storytelling that people remembered long after the evening ended.

Greg was also a man of deep conviction. A passionate patriot, he loved his country openly and spoke his mind without apology. Those who knew him best understood that his strong opinions were never rooted in stubbornness, but in a sincere love of country and an unwavering belief in doing what was right.

His Catholic faith was a quiet but steady anchor throughout his life. Greg was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Belleview, and he carried that same spirit of service into the community he called home.

At Smith Lake Shores Community, Greg was a true fixture — a familiar face at the clubhouse, a neighbor everyone knew, and a man who gave generously of his time and energy to the place he lived. He served on the HOA board and spearheaded improvements to the community that reflected his care for the people in it. He was, in the best sense of the word, a neighbor.

Above all, Greg will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. A man of humor, faith, and conviction. Someone whose knowledge, stories, and larger-than-life personality left a mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

A Funeral Mass service will be held at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Belleview, Florida on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM.  A visitation service will be held prior to Mass at 09:30 AM on the same day at St. Theresa's Catholic Church.

An additional Funeral Mass Service will be held in Troy, Michigan at St. Anastasia Catholic Church on July 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM, with a visitation prior to service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.