John Michael Basham

John Michael “Mike” Basham, 64 of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed from this earth on March 9, 2023. John Michael Basham was born in Muskogee Oklahoma on July 26, 1958. His parents are Dale and Darlene Cowan from Muskogee, Oklahoma. John was predeceased by his brother, Paul Basham. John is survived and missed by his loving wife Frances whom he adored and cherished, and the children he loved so much; Cody Terrell and Fiancée’ Baily Long from Sallisaw, OK, and Brittany and husband Colt Gillion from Sand Springs, OK. His sisters Laurie and husband Ed Safran and Melissa Kathy and husband Bruce Brotzman all from Grainola, Oklahoma and his brother Anthony and wife Tonya Cowan from Muskogee, OK. Mother-in-Law Sue Emler from Gore, OK and his niece Susan and Michael Westbrook and their children Ameriah and Kali from Tulsa, OK. He will be forever cherished and remembered by his grandchildren as their “PaPa”: Landon, Freya, Kymber, Eydn, and Jade, and so many brothers and sister’s in-law and friends. John served with honor in the U.S. Army as an Army Medic stationed in Germany. John avidly wrote letters home to his parents and siblings sharing his adventures. After his separation from the U.S. Army, John continued to serve his country in various U.S. Government positions at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. He shared his knowledge and talents as a Supervisor and Logistician at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center. John was a master at sourcing medical supplies and equipment as his knowledge and use of the products was invaluable to caring for our Veterans to ensure they received the best products available. John had a second love – his pure love of Music. John had a music room in his home dedicated to his love of music where he would listen to music from all genres every day. He knew not only the songs, but the artists and their personal stories. When John returned from Germany he had two duffel bags, one entire bag was filled with brand new socks, he stated “nothing feels better on your feet than new socks”. Intertwined with his clothes and his socks were hundreds of CDs he listened to during his service to our country. John loved swimming, even as a small child. He continued his love for the beach and took his beautiful wife Frances to beaches around the world. They would plan their annual beach vacation with avid enthusiasm and would return and share their numerous adventures and activities from their trips. He shared his love of water with his grandbabies and taught them all to swim and learn water safety. So many beautiful memories were had at the pool. John was a “Muskogee Foodie” and would rival anyone who dared tell him there was a better hot dog than Chets 😊 He also loved Mexican food – the hotter and spicier the better. There are no words that can express how grateful and blessed we are to our friends and family who were there for us during the years John and I were together on this earth. He was loved by so many and a special quote “Great men are engraved in the heart of every soul of everyone who had the privilege to know him”. Family conducted services will be held Thursday, March 23rd, at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3008 E. Hancock St., Muskogee. Military honors will be held Tuesday, March 28th at 2:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery located in Ft. Gibson, OK.

John Michael Basham

July 26, 1958 - March 9, 2023