John Rayford Bass

Memorial services for John Rayford Bass, 77, of Tyler, will be held on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at 3:00 PM at Marvin United Methodist Church with Dr. Doug Baker and Rev. Gerry Giles officiating. A private burial will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Bass passed away Saturday, July 16, 2016 in Tyler. He was born January 24, 1939 in Tyler to Rev. E. R. and Evaline Wells Bass. John was a member of Marvin United Methodist Church. He graduated from SMU with a degree in music. He had a larger than life voice and started in radio with KTBB at the ripe old age of 14 and continued while at SMU in 1966 with KLIF. John started with KLTV in 1967 until 1977, when he left to pursue his real estate career with Ben Fitzgerald and ended up with his brother, Jim Bass at Turner-Bass Realty. Also, in 1968, he was instrumental in starting the Tyler Civic Chorale which continues in Tyler today. During his real estate career, he sang all over the country with the Marvin Chancelor Choir. The choir traveled to England where they sang in the Coventry Cathedral and New York at Carnegie Hall. John enjoyed hunting and fishing and spent way too many years chasing the big one! He had his own fishing show, “Outdoors with John Bass” in the late 1960’s. He was the spokesperson for the Sportster, a sporting goods store based in Tyler. He made the famous the saying “Son, Son – brother, we got it all!” And he loved dressing up as Big Santa Bass in the commercials. John was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Patsy Gilmore; and brother, Jim Bass. He is survived by his loving family including Gary and Janice Gilmore and family, Greg and Melinda Gilmore, Murray Bass and family, Michael Bass and family, Alan Gilmore and family; and Tom and Anne Pukstys and family. He is also survived by many childhood friends, including Robin Hood Brians, David Hamm and many cousins, great nieces and great-nephews. Visitation is scheduled from 6:00 - 8:00 PM on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Marvin Chancelor Choir, 300 West Erwin, Tyler, TX 75702.

John Rayford Bass

January 24, 1939 - July 16, 2016