Thomas Martin Bass went to be with the Lord on March 3, 2021.
Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 7th at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Fortenberry officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery at Honey Grove. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 5 – 7. The family requests that COVID protocols be strictly adhered to. Facemasks must be worn and social distancing must be practiced.
He was born in Bonham, Texas on July 24, 1952 to parents E J Bass and Norma Jean Martin-Bass.
Tom was a graduate of Baylor University School of Nursing in 1974. While at Baylor University he met the love of his life, Kathleen Karr. They married in 1974 in Dallas, Texas and Tom left a month later for Officers Training School (OTS) in Newport, Rhode Island.
After OTS, the couple went to Charleston, South Carolina for Tom’s Naval duty. He served 5 years in the U.S. Navy and exited as Leiutenant Bass.
In 1981 he graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center Nursing School with a Master of Science in Nursing from San Antonio, Texas.
After Nursing School, Tom worked at Charleston Naval Regional Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina. He moved on to work at Audy Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Tom then worked in Paris, Texas at St. Joseph Hospital where he was the Night House Supervisor and then became the Director of the ICU and was instrumental in building the heart program. He worked with Dr. H. Michael Lewis Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeon as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. He went to work for Paris Junior College for many years where he taught numerous students in the nursing program, was awarded with the Master Teacher of the Year. He maintained the highest standard of nursing excellence for 47 years. He taught himself how to diagnose and repair computers.
In his spare time he loved to go camping with his family and friends. He never met a stranger and was quick to forgive people.
Tom and Kathy had 47 years of wonderful marriage. Tom is survived by his wife, Kathleen Bass, two daughters, Cassandra Bass-Hafter and Crystal Bass, son-in-law, David Hafter, and grandchildren, Desarae Johnson, Hannah Hafter, and Adam West.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com
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