Charlaine Baskett

Charlaine Baskett, beloved mother and longtime Casper teacher, died Jan. 3, 2026, in the Wyoming Medical Center. She had celebrated her 100th birthday last year and had been healthy and active until several days before her death.

Charlaine was born in southeastern Iowa to H.J. and Beulah Austin, a rural veterinarian and his wife, who had been a teacher. She graduated from Letts High School and attended Iowa Wesleyan and the University of Colorado. She received a B.A. in English with a minor in history, two subjects she loved for the rest of her life.

In 1949, she married David Baskett of Casper, and they had four children — all girls! The following years included lots of travel around Wyoming and the Midwest, and one memorable road trip to destinations in Canada and the eastern U.S. (Highlights were Niagara Falls, Expo 67, Charles de Gaulle’s famous “Vive le Quebec Libre” speech, and the Broadway show “Mame” with Angela Lansbury.) Closer to home, the family enjoyed lots of picnics on Casper Mountain and many summer weekends swimming in Thermopolis. Winters were for schoolwork and teaching her daughters numerous card games, including their favorite, SQUEAK! She was a room mother and a Brownie Scout leader and taught Sunday School for many years at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

She started her career in the late 1940s, teaching fourth-graders in North Casper. She resumed it in the mid-1960s, first as a part-time reading teacher and then as a full-time reading and arithmetic resources specialist, much of this at McKinley and Mountain View elementary schools.

After their chicks had flown the nest, Char and Dave continued to travel, broadening their destinations from coastal Mexico to Cote d’Azur. She also enjoyed chatting with friends and family by phone, in her home, or over lunch at one of her many favorite restaurants. Char’s cherished activity was curling up with a good book, usually followed by a nap. 

She was involved in many groups in Casper, often taking leadership roles. These included the International Reading Association, Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, Paradise Valley Ladies Golf Association, Petroleum Club Ladies and Casper Service League. 

A lifelong learner, she completed the Education for Ministry course (for lay people), including a stint at Oxford University. She took up golf in her 50s and mastered (with much help) the iPad and iPhone.

And she HAD to stay on top of current events, whether in the neighborhood or across the ocean. Hours before she died, she was watching the news and commenting to a friend about the situation in the Caribbean.

She had lived alone for a decade but got generous support from dear, dear friends, workers, her church family and just about everyone she came in contact with in the wonderful town of Casper. Her family is extremely grateful to these legions who helped Char maintain her “independent” lifestyle.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her daughter Anne. Survivors include daughters Jane Baskett of Dallas, Suzanne (Hobe) Harden of Minneapolis and Mary (Scott) Hunter of Spokane, Wash.; grandsons Rick and Larry Harden of Minneapolis; and niece Sarah Davis of San Diego, Calif.

Her favorite charities were the Foundation of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Casper College Foundation, Natrona County Meals on Wheels and Central Wyoming Hospice.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Jan.13 at St Marks Episcopal Church.