Doris May Bass

Doris Mae Hesser Bass, 88, passed away Sunday, February 25, 2018 in Stillwater, Oklahoma after the breast cancer she had three years ago returned and metastasized. Arrangements are under the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home of Stillwater. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Starlight Ministries, Stillwater. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 28 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. with family greeting guests from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Doris was born at home in rural Glencoe, Oklahoma on July 15, 1929 and was the only child of George Washington Hesser and Mary Elizabeth Morris Wilson Hesser. George was 68 and Mary was 39 years old when she was born. George (widower) and “Mollie” (widow) had combined their families with his nine grown children and her three teenagers. Doris was, of course, spoiled by the entire family. Her father George was an early settler who claimed land in one of the Oklahoma runs and had to fight off a sooner to stake him claim. He later sold the land and bought the family farm. Growing up on the farm one of Doris’s chores was helping her mother milk the cows, but she said she usually found a way to get out of it.

Doris graduated from Eureka High School at age 16 and at 19 married Louis Otto Bass, Jr. while they were both attending Oklahoma State University. To their union were born three children. In the early years Doris worked at McClellan’s five and ten and as a telephone operator. Her claim to fame was working for the television show, Art Linkletter’s House Party, for a week. However, her primary occupation was wife, mother and homemaker. Taking care of Louis was a full-time job! For many years Doris enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, and fishing for Sand Bass on the pontoon boat with Louis and her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She was a wonderful cook and knew what every extended family member liked and disliked. She was always taking meals to friends in need. Her greatest joy came from serving the Lord. She participated in several prayer groups and had a gift of hearing from God. She loved praying for people and seeing the Lord move in miraculous ways. Doris was honored to serve as an elder at Starlight Ministries.

Doris was the last surviving grandchild of the 110 grandchildren of Isaac Thomas and Sarah Jane Hesser. She was preceded in death by her parents and all twelve of her brothers and sisters. Her husband, Louis, died September 1, 2017. She is survived by her three children: Teresa Bittle, (Larry) Luther, OK; Jon Bass, (Shelly), Austin, TX; Delea Bass (Dennis Frasier), Austin, TX; five grandchildren: Brandon Bittle, Nic Bittle, Marni Fahrenbruck, Joseph Bass and Katherine Bass and six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Starlight Ministries or the Louis O. Bass Memorial Scholarship endowment with the OSU foundation.
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