Charles W. "Bill" Baskett, 77, of Athens, died Monday, July 6, 2009, at Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga.

He was a native of Sweetwater, and a resident of McMinn County for most of his life. A son of the late John Raymond and Hazel Cousins Baskett, formerly of Sweetwater, he was of the Methodist Faith and was a graduate of Sweetwater High School and Tennessee Wesleyan College. He worked and retired from Bowater Paper Corporation in the Technical Services Department for 38 years. He entered military service with the Tennessee National Guard and served with honor in the Korean War with the Second Division, 38th Infantry Regiment. He was a member of VFW Post 5146 in Athens, and was an avid golfer for many years. He was preceded in death by one son-in-law, Jerry Underdown.

Survivors include one daughter, Dana Baskett Underdown of Athens; two granddaughters and their husbands, Marla and Steve Hackler of Athens, and Mindy and Avery Pickett of Lenoir City; and two great-grandsons, Dylan Silva of Athens, and Riley Pickett of Lenoir City.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Cedar Grove Cemetery with the Rev. Oran Creasman officiating, followed by military honors.

Active pallbearers will be Calvin Keaton, Bill Stewart, Kenneth Langley, Steve Hackler and Avery Pickett.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home.

Those not able to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com