John Wayne Bass, Sr.

John Wayne Bass, Sr., 78, of Shreveport, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on February 20, 2023. John was born on November 7, 1944, in Bossier City, Louisiana to George W. and Omie Friday Bass.

A visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. with funeral services to follow at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023 located at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana 71118. Officiating the service will be Bro. Randy Johnson. Interment will be held at Zion Rest Cemetery in Pelican, Louisiana.

From a young age, John loved to fish and hunt every creature with his sidekick, nephew, partner in fishing and hunting crime, Don Dillman. The two were connected at the hip with a bond that lasted a lifetime through the good times and bad. They were there for each other, closer than nephew and uncle relationship, they were best of friends, brothers. John cherished the moments he was able to take his own children and grandchildren fishing and hunting. John Sr. was blessed with two sons, Alan and John Jr, and one stepson, Kris Griffin, which he spent many days in freezing cold water duck hunting or in a boat fishing. While the girls, daughter, Shawn and stepdaughter, Kelly, stayed warm and cozy at home. He was also known to take the little grandboys on weekend hunting and fishing trips, so they learned to fish and hunt like PAPA. He was a man that loved to spend time with those he loved.

Through the years John was a man that would give of his time and money to help his family and friends when they were in need. He was also one that knew how to have a good time by taking the family on beach trips, Disney adventures, camping, skiing, hiking, and whatever adventure he could find in order to spend time with his family. These trips always included lots of good food and campfires.

Another title that was held dear by him was coach, “bus driver.” He meant the world to many young boys that he taught the game of baseball. He was a winning coach and he influenced many through the years of coaching John Jr.’s baseball teams then coaching Kris Griffin’s teams after meeting Debra Wilson through the Dixie baseball. He was known to take us all to the ball field for practice on non-practice days after his kids would ask him for extra practice. He would give whatever he had to provide for us even when it cost him his time and his own wants, but you better be ready to run to get him his Blue Bell Ice Cream when he ran out for his before bedtime bowl of ice cream snack.

After meeting and marrying Debra, he gained two more children, Kris and Kelly, which also loved sports. What a great fit, John and Debra! They loved to travel, camp, hike, and river rafting. No hike was too much for him to conquer. Many times, he and the children would race the Abraham’s Fall hike to see who could get there first. I think the girl won every time, Kelly HAHAHA! She was always a handful for him. After retiring, John and Debra fell in love with the Great Smoky Mountains. They traveled there often to see all of the sights from hiking the two-day hike to Mt. Le’Conte, eventually settling and moving the camper to a retirement community on a river in the Great Smoky Mountains. Where you guessed it, he would fish for trout and tube down the river. Again, finding time for the kids and grandkids to come visit and enjoy good food and tubing down the river.

Besides his title of husband to Debra Wilson Bass for 33 years, the love of his life, he was a daddy and Pop to his children. He cherished being called PAPA by his grandchildren. Fish on PAPA.

Preceding John in death were his parents, George W. and Omie Friday Bass; siblings, Jane Crank, George W. Bass, Jr., Marge Wall, Albert Bass, Mary Moffett, Betty Call; nephew, Joey Dillman; and grandson, Dalton Bass. He is survived by his children, Alan Bass and wife, Lisa, John Bass, Jr., Shawn Bass, Kris Griffin and wife, Christy, and Kelly Griffin; 18 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and nephew, Don Dillman.

Honoring John as pallbearers will be Alan Bass, John Bass, Jr., Kris Griffin, Cody Griffin, Kevin McCarty, and Chris McMellon. Serving as honorary pallbearer will be Don Dillman.