Basil Summers

Basil D. Summers of Denver, Colorado passed away peacefully on January 22, 2023.

Basil was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Basil Summers and Emma Delaney Summers on July 25, 1930.  He grew up in Kansas City with his twin sister, Patty, brother Stephen and sisters Betty, Judy and Carolyn Sue, where he was affectionally known as “Buddy.”  He graduated from Bishop Hogan High School in 1947, but in 1952, Basil enlisted in the Army where he served honorably as a corporal during the Korean Conflict.  After completing his military service, he returned to Kansas City and attend Kansas City Business College, where he met the love of his life, Carolyn Shelton.  They were married in 1957 and had three children, David, Randy and Brian.

Basil moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1958 to accept a position as Payroll Clerk at Ideal Cement Company.   He and Carolyn especially enjoyed taking their camping trailer into the Rocky Mountains on weekends.

Basil moved his family to Columbia, Missouri in 1966, where he managed a group of fast-food hamburger restaurants, and became well known driving around town in his specialty car that sported a large fiberglass hamburger mounted on its roof.  Later, he purchased his own restaurant near the University of Missouri campus and named it the “Dine-A-Mite” Drive Inn.

Long before computerized engraving, Basil was also a professional engraver, and impressed his friends by personally engraving names, dates and phrases on everything from trophies and plaques to commemorative newborn silverware sets and name badges.

Although his career also included managing other restaurants and some motels in Missouri, he later relocated his family to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he took up driving a taxi and collected entertaining stories for many years, before moving to Denver in 1990.  Basil was also an accomplished ball room dancer and became a professional dance host sought by multiple cruise lines.

He is survived by his lovely wife Carolyn, now residing in Stockton, Missouri, his sons David, of Greenwood Village, Colorado, Randy, of Stockton, Missouri, and Brian, of Austin Texas.  He is also survived by his two sisters, Judy of Columbia, Missouri and Carolyn Sue, of Kansas City, Missouri, both of whom surprised Basil at his 92nd birthday party last summer.   Basil was predeceased by his twin sister, Patty, his older sister Betty, and his younger brother Stephen.

Family and friends are welcome to attend a celebration of his life on February 16th to be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, with Visitation beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Rosary at 9:00 a.m., Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m., and a Burial Service with full military honors at Fort Logan National Cemetery commencing at 11:30 a.m.  Each of these services will also be streamed on the internet and can be viewed at Horancares.com.