Milton Knight Bass

Milton Knight Bass, age 96, passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2018, at his home in Jefferson.  He was born June 18, 1922 to Constance Lothrop and Charles Leon Bass.  He was one of a set of triplets, Milton, an identical twin brother Paul, and a sister Mildred who died at birth.

Visitations will be at 1:30pm on Saturday, July 21, 2018, and funeral will follow at 3pm at the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson.  Burial will be at Jefferson Oakwood Cemetery.

Milton and his brother, Paul were known as the “Bass Twins”.  They graduated from Jefferson High School in May 1940 and were on the 1939 high school football team and they were the first Jefferson football team to win district.

Milton was a Boy Scout and earned the “Order of the Arrow” (which his son would also earn). He later became Scout Master of Troop 212 where he was leader for his son, Kim.  Milton swam the mile when we was 44 years old to help his young son earn the swimming merit badge while at Camp Pirtle.  He was a coach for his son’s pee wee, little league and pony league baseball team.

Milton served 4 ½ years in the 5th Army Air Corp, flying 50 missions as the ball turret gunner on a B-17 in the South Pacific.  After his discharge from the service in September 1945, Milton joined Bass Dry Goods with his father and grandfather.  They opened a store in Mineola around 1946 where he met his bride to be, Imogene Maclin.  They were married in Longview at Wesley Methodist Church on March 21, 1948, and recently celebrated 70 years of marriage.

Milton and Imogene have two children, Paula Bass Youngblood of Jefferson Texas and Kim (Sam) Bass of Moody, Texas. 

Milton was a lifelong member of the Jefferson Methodist Church, he and his wife were very active, creating the Builders Sunday School Class in 1948, serving as usher and ringing the church bell every Sunday morning.  Milton rang the Jefferson Methodist church bell for over 80 years that rings out one long and two short sounds that peels out “Come to Church”.  He taught his son, grandsons, great grandsons and great-great grandson how to ring the bell.

After his grandfather died in 1955, Milton and his father, Charles Leon Bass, opened L & M Shoe Store in Jefferson and were in business until 1963.  Milton worked for Thiokol in Karnack as an inspector from 1963 to 1966 and then worked 27 years at Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant, retiring in 1988.

Milton is survived by his wife of 70 years, Imogene, and two children, Paula Youngblood of Jefferson and Kim (Sam) Bass and his wife Martha of Moody, TX, sister, Barbara Bass Hanson of Kosciusko, MS, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  Five grandchildren, Regena and Jamie Nelson of Jefferson, Darrell and Amy Youngblood of Avinger, Michael Youngblood of Jefferson, Nelda and Glen Zimmerman of Tacoma, Washington, and Carolyn Bass of Middleburg, Florida.   Nine great grandchildren, Bryan and Jessica Nelson of Marshall, Tyler Nelson of Jefferson; Nikki and Hunter Nelson of Jefferson; Austin, Shelby and Ashton Youngblood of Avinger, Rebekah Youngblood of Jefferson, and Alex Fortune of Middleburg, Florida.  Two great-great grandchildren, Mila Nelson of Marshall and Jaxon Nelson of Jefferson.

He was preceded in death by mother Constance Lothrop Bass and father Charles Leon Bass, sister Constance Parker, twin brother Paul Leon Bass, a sister, Mildred (at birth) and stepmother Mildred Bass.

Pallbearers include: Bryan Nelson, Tyler Nelson, Hunter Nelson, Austin Youngblood, Ashton Youngblood, Jamie Nelson, Darrell Youngblood, Michael Youngblood, special friend Jimmy Smith. Honorary pallbearers are Alex Fortune and Jaxon Nelson.

Memorials contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 457, Jefferson, Texas.

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