Minister Ernest Bass was born February 16, 1936 in West Memphis, Arkansas, the son of Bertha Collins and R.B. Buckner. On Friday, September 22, 2017 at the age of 81, he exchanged this life for a pair of wings and was welcomed into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for eternal rest.

He left West Memphis at the age of 16 and moved to Chicago, Illinois for a short time and later moved to Flint, Michigan.  While living in Flint he took up boxing and became a middle weight champion at the IMA Sports Arena.

He joined the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in 1953 on Hickory Street in Flint. There he was a Sunday School Teacher and Vice President of the High Light Gospel Chorus.  He was also a Master Mason of the International Modern Mason.

Ernest married the dream of his life Bettie Jean Hampton on May 9, 1957. He accepted the call into the ministry in 1985 and preached his first sermon on Easter Sunday in 1985.

He wouldn’t miss a day of fishing and being at the lake. He loved showing out for his wife and family with his many skills and talents of cooking food.  “He became the best professional Chef there was.”

It was June of 1986 that he moved again, and this time Fort Wayne, Indiana became his home.  He fellowshipped with and later became a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1986 under the leadership of Rev. Sam Shade, Jr.  He continued serving the Lord there as a Sunday School Teacher, member of the Ministers, Deacons and Wives Fellowship and Bible Class.  He loved everything about church and every sentence was about “God Bless You.”

Minister Bass was preceded in death by his parents, Bertha Collins and R.B. Buckner; siblings, Ike Bass, Nancy Richardson and Mildred Hunter.

He leaves to cherish many loving memories to his loving wife, Bettie Jean Bass; son, Omar (Ashley) Bass both of Fort Wayne; daughters, Shirley Ann Snyder, Shirley Jean Bass and Alicia Sanders all of Flint; an aunt, Melinda Pittman of Holly, MI; eight grandchildren, Andrea Norwood of Pickerington, Ohio, Torina Bass of Clayton, NC. Tanea Richmond of Battle Creek, MI, Keyon Sanders, Cincinnati, OH, DaLonyon Batson and Malicia Batson both of Flint, Demona Davis of Grand Blanc, MI and Amor Bass of Lansing, MI; nieces, Shelia Bass Shell of Chicago, IL, Brenda Brown, Ernestine Watson, Vanessa Wilburn all of Flint; nephews, George Kelly of Grand Rapids, MI, Bill Fisher of Burton, MI, many great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

~He will be laid to rest in Concordia Lutheran Gardens - Lake Avenue~

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