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Rader Funeral Home, December 4, 2015
W.E. ?Bill? Bass
Services for W.E. ?Bill? Bass, 86, of Kilgore will be held on Monday, December 7, 2015 at 10 a.m. at the Forest Home Baptist Church under the direction of Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore. Interment will follow the service in the Kilgore City Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 3 until 5 pm.
W. E. ?Bill? Bass was born in his family home in Smith County, Texas on June 11, 1929, and died at the age of 86 in his home in Kilgore on December 4, 2015 surrounded by family and friends. Bill?s family moved to Kilgore when he was in high school. His father, Harvey Bass, started building homes in 1949, and Bill wanted to join him in construction at the age of 16, but he did not qualify under the union rules. Bill attended Kilgore College for two years and was required by the union to do a four year apprenticeship before he could begin work as a journeyman carpenter. Bill persevered with the union as they continued to challenge him by answering a long list of questions, and the union finally gave in and Bill became a journeyman carpenter in 1950, working alongside his father until Harvey retired. Bill carried on the family business as Bill Bass Construction and truly never retired as he was building one last home when he became ill a few months ago. Bill was a self-taught draftsman and has drawn thousands of plans for homes, commercial buildings, schools, and church buildings, most of which he built himself or supervised the construction.
In 1974, Bill fell through a roof in Kilgore which left him a paraplegic. That did not stop him from continuing to share his talent of drawing plans and construction for many more years. He was a master builder and his talents were sought by thousands. Bill wheeled his way through life in his wheelchair with no complaints, with a deep conviction, and with so much knowledge and wisdom that he shared with his family and the many friends that he mentored.
In 1999 Bill was an integral part of starting Habitat for Humanity in Kilgore. Through his fundraising efforts along with many other folks, Habitat has never had to purchase a single lot, and has built more than 13 homes that are occupied by grateful people. Bill also served on the City of Kilgore Planning and Zoning Committee. The City had wanted him to serve for many years, but he advised them that he could not serve because there was no wheelchair access to City Hall. So the City built a handicapped ramp access, which he supervised, and Bill then served on the Committee and as Director, for more than 30 years.
Bill loved football and was an avid Kilgore Bulldog fan - attending as many games as possible both in and out of town, along with numerous friends who made sure he was able to attend. Bill was an active member of Danville Masonic Lodge #101, and a Deacon at Forest Home Baptist Church since 1968.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Barbara ?Bobbie? Bass, as well as his parents, Harvey and Mildred Bass, his brother Wilson Bass, and his sister, Reba McKee. Bill is survived by his son Mark Bass and his wife Lindy Bass of Kilgore; his daughter Javan Johnson and her husband, Brett Johnson, of Longview; his grandchildren Kala Davis and her husband Michael Davis of Enola, Pennsylvania, Marissa Bass-Stroud and her husband, Ben Stroud of Toledo, Ohio, Jalayna Davis and her husband, Josh Davis of Kilgore; and Cameron Johnson of Longview; and his great grandchildren, Bragan Davis, Ryken Davis, Sydney Davis, Payton Davis, Raegan Davis and Bramwell Bass-Stroud; his niece Deborah Mobbs and her husband Lenny Mobbs of Longview; and enumerable extended family and friends.
The family thanks Bill?s caregivers, Patricia Ray and Madge Penny, for the loving and tender care they gave him in the past few months. They also thank The Hospice of East Texas for all of the support and care given to him and the family in his final days.
Bill shared his love of building with many mission projects through the years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Brush With Kindness Projects, P. O. Box 2315, Kilgore, Texas 75662 which works in coordination with Habitat for Humanity to build handicap ramps and other minor home repairs for those in need; or, Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 7557 Rambler Road, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75231.
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