Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 19, at 11 a.m. at the Charity Christian Revival Center with Apostle Willie Shields officiating. Interment will follow in Knob Noster Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Theo, Greg, Ny, Preston, and Peyton Bass and Jordan Gresham. Honorary pallbearers will be Raymond Bass, Jr., Keith, Eric, and London Bass, Deoral Carr, and Bryant Gresham. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 9 a.m. until service time at the church.
Raymond was born in Knob Noster on September 5, 1927, the son of Louis B. and Geneva (Calvert) Bass.
In 1946, Raymond joined the U.S. Army where he proudly served for 20 years. He retired as a Sgt. First Class. After he retired he returned to his home of Knob Noster where he owned and operated multiple successful businesses for many years (Bass Trucking Company and Mr. B’s Convenience Store). He spent many years as a public servant in the capacities of city councilman, alderman, Mayor Pro Tem, and Mayor.
In August of 1966, he married the love of his life, Idella “Del” Dickinson. To this union two of his children, Eric and Tonya were born. They were married for 50 wonderful years. He was an amazing husband, father and friend who volunteered his time to many sports teams as a wonderful coach and mentor.
Raymond leaves many to cherish his wonderful memories: his wife, Idella Bass; three sons, Ray Bass, Jr. (Vicki), of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, Keith Bass, of Higginsville, Missouri, and Eric Bass (Christi), of San Antonio, Texas; two daughters, Melanie Carr (Deoral) of Enid, Oklahoma, and Tonya Gresham (Bryant) of Kansas City, Missouri; four sisters, Juanita Benton, of Higginsville, Betty Benton (Travis), of Higginsville, Mary Steward, of Knob Noster, Janet “Sue” Winters (Elbert), of Knob Noster; three brothers, Joseph Bass, Lawerence “Sonny” Bass (Dorothy), both of Warrensburg, Missouri, Wayne Bass (Marie), of Odessa, Missouri; 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Alzheimer’s Association and can be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home.
