Basil Savard

Louis Basil Savard Sr., 83, of McDonald, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at his home. He was born Oct. 5, 1931, in Rochester, N.Y. He graduated from Phillips Academy at Andover and Yale University where he played college basketball and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He advanced to semi-professional basketball for several years. Basil was married to Rosalind E. Savard for 48 years and they had one son. Basil worked for Massachusetts Life Insurance Co. for 34 years. He owned the Choo Choo Car Wash in Sanford, Fla., for nine years before returning to McDonald, Tenn. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland, the Cleveland Bridge Club, and the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club for 56 years. He had a deep love for the many friendships he developed at the club through those fun years. His fondest memories are of his card games with his buddies and time spent with his family. He loved to tell stories about the "characters" who haunted the Mens Grill over the many years he was alive. Dad had an encyclopedic memory of sports and statistics and loved watching his football. Basil was predeceased by his parents, Thelma Daus Savard and Basil Eugene Savard, of Fairport, N.Y.; and his wife, Rosalind Everhart Savard, of McDonald, Tenn. He is survived by his son, Louis Basel Savard Jr. and daughter-in-law, Robin Futrell Savard; his grandsons, Louis Basil Savard III and Blake Sterling Savard, all of McDonald, Tenn.; his sister, Dr. Thelma Graeb, and brother-in-law Harold Graeb; and nieces and nephews, Bruce Graeb, Randy Graeb, Jacqueline Smith and Sharon Marks. Visitation will be today, Dec. 21, from 2-4 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel. Funeral services follow at 4 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. James Barron officiating. He will be buried in the family plot in Lee Cemetery, McDonald, Tenn. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416 Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com. Arrangements are by the Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory & Florist, East Brainerd Chapel, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.