Wade Bass Iii

Wade Davis Bass III, 89, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on Thurs. September 15, 2016 after a lengthy illness. Wade was born on January 31, 1927 in Long Beach, Mississippi to Ruby Heitzmann Bass and Wade Davis Bass Jr. After spending his early childhood years on the Mississippi Gulf Cost, Wade and his family moved frequently to numerous towns in Mississippi due to his father’s job as a bus driver. Wade told his family that they moved so frequently that, during his fourth grade year, he attended four different schools. By Junior High, Wade’s family had settled in Jackson where he attended Central High School. However, three days after he turned seventeen, he obtained his parent’s permission to enlist in the Navy, where he served on the Destroyers USS Eisner and USS Garfield Thomas in both the Atlantic and Pacific fronts. While stationed briefly in Liverpool, England, he received his high school diploma in the mail.

After the war, Wade attended Mississippi College where he became known statewide for his abilities as a tackle on the Mississippi College Football Team. After graduation, Wade served as coach at Byram High School before moving to Brandon in 1954 to serve initially as assistant coach, and then as head coach, of the football, basketball, baseball, and track teams at Brandon High School. While at Brandon High, Wade renewed a friendship with Dauphine Jones, who he had met briefly a few years earlier and who was also teaching at Brandon High. Wade and Dauphine fell in love, and were married in Carson, Mississippi on June 3, 1956. They recently celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Wade left Brandon High School in 1961 to become the first State Farm Agent in Rankin County. Wade quickly became one of State Farm’s leading producers, continuing this success until he retired in 1999. During his retirement, Wade and Dauphine enjoyed traveling around the country in their RV, often including their children and grandchildren on their trips. Wade was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Brandon, where he served as a Deacon for many years. He was also a charter member of Brandon Baptist Church, where he enjoyed being a part of Brother Nail’s Men’s Sunday School Class. Wade was also active in other areas, including serving as President of the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 29, and many other activities. Wade is preceded in death by his brother, Jack Edward Bass; sister, Mary Margaret McDaniel; daughter-in-law, Martha Ware Bass, and grandson, Philip Wade Bass.

He is survived by his loving wife, Dauphine; son, Wade Davis (David) Bass, IV and wife, Jayne of Dallas, Texas; son, Don Lewis Bass and wife, Angela, of Brandon; his grandchildren, Nancy Bass Ferry and husband Richard, Wade Williams Bass, James Lewis Bass, Henry Philip Bass, Mary Grace Bass, Katherine Paige Bass, Jayne Hayes Bass; and by great-grandson, Richard Davis Ferry.

Visitation will be held from 3pm-6pm on Sun. Sept. 18, 2016 at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS and on Mon. Sept. 19, 2016 from 10am-11am at Brandon Baptist Church in Brandon, MS. A funeral service celebrating his life will be at 11am on Mon. Sept. 19, 2016 at Brandon Baptist Church with Dr. Clarence Cooper officiating. Burial will follow the services at Brandon Memorial Gardens in Brandon, MS.
Gifts in memory of Wade’s life may be sent to Brandon Baptist Church Building Fund at 100 Brandon Baptist Dr. Brandon, MS 39042. The family would like to extend a special word of thanks to Robert Williams for the care and support he provided during the final year of Wade’s life.

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