Dana Bastas' Obituary
Dana Joe Cantrell Bastas passed away August 20 in McKinney, TX from Alzheimer’s disease. Born June 5, 1930 in Galatia, IL to Otha Ryan and John Lomax Cantrell. A graduate of Benton High School in Benton, IL, she married Paul Thomas Bastas November 12, 1948. She attended Secretarial School in Chicago, IL where Paul studied court reporting following his service in World War II. They relocated to Springfield, IL where sons Craig and Rick were born. In 1960, they moved to Dallas, which became their permanent home. Daughter Deitri was born in 1965. Dana and Paul became active members of Kessler Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, serving as faithful members and church leaders. Dana started work as an instructor with the Sears Charm and modeling school in the 1960s. Dana later worked with the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau as a city representative to visiting tourists. She established Personal Tour Service, a destination management company, in the 1970s. Her success resulted in creating a well-regarded meeting planning company which planned and managed the important sales and annual meetings for national corporate and association clients across the country. Her warmth, dynamic personality and ever-present smile were infectious to all who came in contact. Dana and Paul loved to entertain family and friends. A talented cook and hostess, Dana was rarely at home alone. People gravitated to the Bastas household, where wonderful food and fun was always the recipe. All were welcome in Dana’s home. Travel, particularly with family and life-long friends, was a favorite activity. With Paul, Dana enjoyed dancing on vacations in Mexico, Hawaii, Israel, Greece, and at annual court reporting conventions across the United States. Following Paul’s death in 2002, Dana generously treated her children and grandchildren to vacations in Hawaii, as well as cruises to Alaska and the Mexican Riviera. The music of Elvis Presley was always ever-present in her life. She was also known for her love of desserts, chocolate being her passion! Dana was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul Thomas Bastas, sister Marguerette Evelyn Frier, brother Bailus K. Cantrell, sister Diane Cantrell, and grandson Colin Robert Brixey. She is survived by her children, Craig Paul Bastas and wife Rita, of Gun Barrel City, TX; Rick Ryan Bastas and wife Gail Barron, of Dallas, TX; Deitri Bastas Brixey and husband Michael, of Prosper, TX; grandchildren Kristian Lee Bastas and wife Brandi, Tiffany Paige Bastas New and husband Bradley, Caitlin Erin Bastas, Hayden Thomas Brixey and Kailey Shae Brixey; great-grandchildren Justen Bastas, Marhli McAlpin, Zachary Bastas, Rylan New, Kinsley New; Sister, Sharon Diane Woodburn and husband Jeff of Crowley, TX; sister-in-law Denysia Bastas, sister-in-law Loni Bastas, and brother-in-law Bob Bastas of Springfield, IL, and many extended family and friends. Visitation is Thursday, August 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas 75243. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Friday, August 28, at Kessler Park United Methodist Church, 1215 Turner Ave, Dallas 75208, following a private burial that morning, at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. At the family’s request, please feel free to bring a favorite photo of Dana or express a special memory for them to keep. Memorials can be made in Dana’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org and to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org
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