Basil Linn Rushing, of Dixon, was born on May 26, 1934, at Mansfield, a son of Leroy and Leslie Mae (Hunsaker) Rushing, who preceded him in death. Basil departed this life at 1:00 a.m., on Saturday, June 30, 2018, at his residence, and he had attained the age of 84 years, 1 month, and 4 days.

Basil was united in marriage on July 26, 1953, at Eldon, to the former Miss Kathryn June George, and to this union, three children were born.

He began his military career in the U.S. Army Military Police Reserve, in the state of Kansas, where he served for four years until he was called to active duty and served for twenty-one years until his honorable discharge at Fort Leonard Wood for his retirement on August 31, 1978, at the rank of First Sergeant.  During his military career, he had served tours of duty in France (2), Germany, Vietnam (2), and Korea with his principal duties being an equipment operator, a construction foreman, and a First Sergeant.  Basil was awarded and entitled to wear the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal (5 awards), the Bronze Star Medal (2 each), and the Meritorious Service Medal.  Following his military service, he was employed by Civil Service at Fort Leonard Wood as a Course Chief of the Electrical Course for seventeen years, training soldiers in electrical trades, which he enjoyed greatly, until his final retirement in May of 1996.

Basil was a member of the Sheppard Baptist Church, near Dixon; had been recently ordained as a minister, was a member and past commander of the Liesmann-Roberts American Legion Post 298, Dixon; a member of the Disabled American Veterans and a volunteer van driver; and had headed up the American Legion Post 298 Baseball Program for the past eleven years.  He especially enjoyed working the land, fixing fence, and brush hogging the land in preparation for buying some cattle in the spring and selling them in the fall.

Those left to mourn the passing of Basil include:  His devoted wife of almost sixty-five years, Kathryn Rushing, of the home near Dixon; his children, Terry Rushing and wife, Mary, of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Teresa Long and husband, Randy, and Susan Durbin and husband, John, all of Dixon; his grandchildren, Gary Long and wife, Maria, of St. Louis, Josh Long of Dixon, Jenna Doolittle and husband, Derek, of Los Angeles, California, Jace Long and friend, Mikala Lohe, of McKinney, Texas, Nichole Bassett and husband, Brent, of Waynesville, Alia Jones and husband, John, of Holts Summit, Cara Bird of Dixon, Johnna Durbin and friend, Ryan Lintzenich, of St. Louis, Mallory Richardson and husband, Seth, of Springfield, Kelly Coquillette and husband, Will, of Lawrence, Kansas, and Raun Meyn and wife, Morgan, of Chicago, Illinois; his great-grandchildren, Ainsley, Avalyn, Clayton, Kyle, Ali Grace, Cohen, Silas, and Rennie; his brother, Larry Rushing and wife, Linda, of Seven Falls, North Carolina; nephews; nieces; other relatives; and a host of friends.