Janet Basinger

In 2000, the Light family of Hancock County, Ohio, gifted their family farmland, through a charitable remainder trust, to Liberty-Benton High School. Janet Light offered this land to be used for the school’s football and baseball fields, and the only request she had was for it to be named the Leland L. Light Memorial Athletic Fields. Sadly, the land was taken and used, but it was not named the Leland L. Light Memorial Athletic Fields as she passioned.

Janet Ferrel Light Hilty Basinger, the philanthropist who gifted this land, died on January 21, 2020, in White Rock, NM. She was born on April 16, 1933 in Hancock County, Ohio, to Victor J. & Gladys Faye Myers Ferrell, who precede her in death. On September 2, 1951, Janet married Leland L. Light, with whom she had three children. Leland died on January 26, 1986 in Mesa, AZ. She married Richard Hilty, who died May 10, 2001, and she married Richard W. Basinger in Los Alamos, NM in November, 2005.

Janet is survived by her sister Donna Clymer; children Bruce (Marilyn) Light, of Lehi, UT, Brian (Kellin) Light, of Seattle, WA and Amy Light of Columbia, SC; 11 grandchildren Forest & Lisa, Tanner, Garrett & Braden Light of Utah, Rachel, Alisa, Briana Light & Karissa Light-Smith of Seattle, Devon, Brooklyn & Morgan Wagner of South Carolina; step-daughter Debbie Basinger (Jack) Jennings; two step-grandsons Caleb & Quintin of Albuquerque, NM; and seven great-grandchildren. 

Janet graduated from Liberty Benton High School in 1951. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in education, business & art from University of Findlay in 1971 and a Master’s Degree in administration & supervision from Bowling Green State University in 1985. 

She maintained a business partnership with Leland L. Light & Associates contracting schools in OH, IN, IL, MI & WV. She owned and operated A-1 Durable Medical Equipment CO in Mesa, AZ, as well as Light’s Brucewood Acres Subdivision in Findlay OH, and she was a farm owner & manager in Hancock County, OH. Janet taught school at Liberty Benton Elementary School in Findlay, OH; in Tucson, AZ; and at Benjamin Franklin School in Mesa, AZ. She was a student teacher supervisor at the University of Findlay and a teacher-instructor of teachers in Spalding Writing Road to Reading.

Janet engaged in much volunteer work in Los Alamos, NM: she was a teacher of AARP 55-Alive Driving Class, an AARP income tax-aid preparer, an ESL teacher, on the board of directors for the Los Alamos & White Rock Senior Center, a landscape tour guide for Georgia O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch, a bible school teacher for the Los Alamos First Methodist Church, and a missionary on the Navajo Indian Reservation. She also volunteered at the Red Cross Blood Drive, Jemez House Thrift Store, Save the Children, White Rock Baptist Church, University of New Mexico and the Lions Club.

In Hancock County, OH, Janet volunteered at Meals on Wheels, United Way and Habitat for Humanity. She was also the Sunday School teacher, director, lay leader, and treasurer for Zion United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School, junior choir director at Calvary United Methodist Church in Benton Ridge, OH, alumni program director at Liberty-Benton High School, Cub Scout Den Mother and boosters & fundraisers soloist for the Liberty-Benton Band.

For Janet’s gift of land to the high school, a picture/memorial plaque sits on display in the trophy case at Liberty-Benton High School in Findlay, Ohio.

A memorial for Janet will be held Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3:00 pm at the White Rock Baptist Church, located at 80 State Road 4 in White Rock, New Mexico. Services in Utah will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 5:00 pm at the Stake Center, located at 851 North 1200 East in Lehi, Utah. Services in Ohio will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at 5:00 pm at the Zion United Methodist Church, located at 9009 SR 12 West in Findlay, Ohio.

Janet’s family has entrusted her care to Rivera Family Funerals & Cremations of Los Alamos, located at 1627 A Central Avenue in Los Alamos, NM 87544.