MILFORD LAMAR BASS

Mr. Milford Lamar Bass was born in Opp, Alabama on March 7, 1931. He entered into eternal life on Monday, December 13 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.   He was the second of five children born to Malcom and Ilene Donaldson Bass.  He moved with his family to many communities including Darlington, Gaskin, Antioch, and Alaqua while they were itinerant farmers.  Milford shared his fond memories of the time spent at his grandparents’ homestead on what is now part of Eglin AFB.  Stories and memories abound from his childhood including wasting the cow milk while entertaining the cat Kitty Fisher, having a pet alligator that his mother soon dispensed with, squirrel hunting with his dog Frisky, and the many kindnesses of neighbors as his mother’s health declined.  He joined the US Army and served in a heavy tank battalion during the Korean Conflict.  He met his future bride, Charlene, after giving a ride to an Army friend who was dating her sister.  Charlene Lee of Cullman, Alabama became Mrs. Bass on December 20, 1952.  Milford trained as a barber in Jacksonville, Florida and began barbering in 1953.  In 1954 he joined Ralph and Harold Spence on the corner of Baldwin Ave and 9th Street, eventually becoming the owner of the shop where he worked for over forty years.  Milford and his wife were blessed with three children and were active members of First United Methodist Church.  He served on numerous church committees over the years, was an active member of Thorpe Vest Sunday School, sang in the chancel choir, and enhanced the community as a Boy Scout Leader.  From 1972-1976 he served as a Walton County School Board Member.  Milford was an avid fisherman and a skilled bird hunter.  His children and grandchildren each learned the finer details of fishing from an early age to include the fact that fish do not bite on Sundays.  He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, neighbor, and friend.  He is predeceased by his parents, wife Charlene Lee Bass, brother George D. Bass and his wife Juanita, sister Miladean Bass, brother-in-law Allen Harvey, sister-in-law Bobbie Bass, daughter-in-law Jennifer J. Bass, and grandson R. Ryan Mason.
He is survived by his son Stanley Bass and wife Paola of Gordon, Alabama, daughter Renee Mason and husband Richard of Frankford, Delaware, daughter Tammie Bass King of DeFuniak Springs, FL, sister Olene Harvey, brother Johnny Bass, sister-in-law Mary W. Smith, grandchildren Robert Mason and fiancée Jennifer Tealey, Sarah King and wife Ashley King, Daniel King and fiancée J.J. Diah, and Reese Stanley Bass, great-grandchildren Samantha “Izzy” Mason and James Dylan Mason, and numerous nieces and nephews.
On Saturday, 18 December 2021, a time of visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:00 at First United Methodist Church, 88 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL and the funeral will begin at 2:00.  Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery, DeFuniak Springs, FL.  The family requests  that memorials be made to the charity of the giver’s choice such as the United Methodist White Christmas fund, The Alzheimer’s Association, and the Arthritis National Research Foundation.
The family appreciates your eagerness to share in our love for Milford, but respectfully requests that while attending services in his memory that you wear a face mask at times when you are unable to maintain physical distance.