Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries



H. Neil Bass     

H. Neil Bass, 85, of Fairfield, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2013 at his home.  
Visitation will be held December 3rd from 6-8 p.m. Services will be 2:00 p.m. 
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. T. Paul 
Kethley officiating.  Interment will follow at Stewards Mill Cemetery under the 
direction of Capps Memorial Chapel.  

Mr. Bass was born December 25, 1927 and grew up in the Stewards Mill Community.  
He was a lifelong resident of Fairfield and Stewards Mill.  His parents were 
Aubrey Handsel Bass and Marjorie Watson Bass.  

He graduated Fairfield High School in 1945 and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1946.  
Following his military service he attended Stephen F. Austin University earning 
his B.S. degree in 1951 and his M.E. degree in 1971.  

He married Barbara Nicholas on April 12, 1952 in Fairfield.  
He retired in 1983 after teaching for 26 years mostly in Fairfield.  
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Freestone County 
Historical Commission.  He was a charter member of the Fairfield Lions Club and 
Chairman of the Board of Stewards First United Methodist Church.  He was honored 
as Citizen of the Year in 2007 by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.  He was 
instrumental in building a new wing to the Freestone County Museum.  

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Dave Neil Bass in 
2003.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 61 years, Barbara Nicholas Bass; a 
daughter, Donna Elaine Bass of Fairfield; a grandson, Joey Musgrave of Fairfield; 
three granddaughters, Melanie E. Musgrave Jackson and husband Brian of Denton, 
TX; Sisha Lee Palacio and husband Darrick of Fairfield; Leslie Ann Bass of Dallas; 
three great-grandchildren, Caleb Jackson of Denton, TX; Levy and Benjamin Palacio 
of Fairfield; and a host of relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Robinson, Sam Bill Bournias, Scott W. Marsters, Sr., 
Rick Medford, Brownie Utley, and Kevin Benedict.