Geneva Basalyga

Canton- Geneva Massie Basalyga- age 76 died October 7, 2006 at her residence in Coral Gables, FL. Never tell a Massie sister what to do. If she were to follow your advice it's only because she already was going that direction. Rude? Never. But each has a solid and quiet knowledge that she has the intelligence and ability to make her own decisions. Geneva Massie Basalyga is one of four Massie sisters. Born in Hamilton, Ohio, she was a daughter of Mr. Olus Delane and Mrs. Laura McIntosh Massie. Geneva and her sisters grew up in Cruso, NC. Self-sufficiency was crucial in the rugged mountain community that was home to her father. It was soon home to the sisters and the family farmed and built and operated a store to serve their neighbors and support themselves. Geneva earned her teaching degree at Women's College of the University of North Carolina (UNC-G). She taught Home Economics at Bethel and Clyde High Schools before moving to Coral Gables, Florida to teach. But in Coral Gables she fell in love only a few years into her career. Swept off her feet by the charming Sam Mitchell, they married. They spent their years together happily, living in New York where Sam was a restaurateur and in Coral Gables where they planned for Sam to retire. Unfortunately, as Sam retired he also became very ill and passed away. Geneva stayed in Coral Gables among the many friends she and Sam had made here. She remained devoted to her friends and community and served in many charitable endeavors. Geneva was fortunate with love once again and married Peter Basalyga in 1984. They had 18 happy years together until Pete's long illness and death in 2004. Geneva was thankful for her family who gave her strength and joy. Her sisters, Mrs. Irene Haynes of Cruso, NC, Mrs. Wanda Caldwell of Lake Wales, Florida, Mrs. Oleen and husband Dr. Hank Misbach of Cruso, NC,; her nieces and nephews, Mrs. Lauri and Deni Evans of Canton, NC, and son Nathan Holder of Navarre, Florida; Ms. Karen Misbach of Bumpass, Virginia; Mr. William Delane and Suzie Haynes and their daughter Amelia of Whittier, and their daughter Ashley Haynes of Chapel Hill, NC; Mr. David L. Haynes and wife, Jeanie Frye and their son David M. Haynes of Cornelius, NC. Geneva asked that those who have helped her in special ways in her final days be thanked. Her personal physician Dr. William Abelove of Miami who made time whenever needed. Home Instead Senior Care of Miami staff Kathy Holmes, Regina Kennedy, Alicia Gonzalez, Marie Fransiou, Mini Castro and Gabriel DeArmas, Jr. Their skilled & loving help made it possible for Geneva to be comfortably and safely at home. The Hospice Care of South Florida whose support staff Richard Cabezas and Gladys Gonzales arranged exceptional medical care through the capable and compassioned skills of Geneva's hospice nurses Dimas Rodriguez, Aymee Diaz, Maida Burgos, and Rosa Pies. And a special thanks to her many friends and neighbors who called and stopped by to visit. The family also thanks those who came together in Coral Gables to share memories. Especially Mr. Paul Louis, her attorney, who delivered a truth filled and beautiful eulogy for Geneva and the Reverend Tom Shafer of First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables who arranged and led the gathering of friends in scripture and prayer. We invite you to come together for a joyful celebration of Geneva Mae Massie's life. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 15, 2006 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the Reverend David Christy officiating. Burial will follow in Bethel Community Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haywood Regional Medical Center Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

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