Our dad, Ernest G. Bass, passed away on March 15, 2022. His friends called him E.G. He was born in Oakdale, Louisiana in 1931. If you ever had dad's gumbo or sauce piquant, then you know how much he loved his Louisiana upbringing and the food of Cajun Country. Our grandfather, Roland Bass, was a Louisiana lawman. Our grandmother, Willie Jewel Barton, was a Cajun beauty, full of a zest for life and her only child, E.G., was her greatest treasure.

The love of dad's life was our mom, Naomi Bass. They were married for 68 years. Naomi and E.G. were inseparable. They were an unstoppable team. Dad told me a few days ago that he was tired. He said he was ready to go be with my mom. Their love is eternal. The great love of both of their lives was the First United Pentecostal Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they pastored for 61 years. Mom and dad spent all the best years of their lives pastoring the church at 606 North Denver. They loved the church on the hill overlooking Tulsa. They loved the people of their church and their fellow pastors and pastor's wives.

Their other great love was the Oklahoma District. E.G. served the district in many capacities. He was most proud of the campground in Mustang Oklahoma. E.G. and the other pastors and saints of the district built the campground by hand and they had many a great Camp Meeting there. One of the greatest speakers at the camp meeting services was Marvin Treece, (Apostolic Temple, Lake Charles La.) dad's dear friend. Marvin and E.G. went on many hunting trips to Colorado and Wyoming and brought back trophy bucks and venison for delicious chicken fried deer steak. Marvin's son, Rick Treece, (Apostolic Temple, Lake Charles La.) will speak at E.G.'s funeral.

Our dad had a big zest for life. He loved to tell jokes and play tricks on his friends. He loved to travel with Naomi and his kids all over the United States and the world. He knew all the history of everywhere we visited. He loved to barbecue for the people of his church. He loved going out on his boat on lake Eufaula with Naomi and fishing all day and half the night. Most of all he loved preaching. He loved reading his Bible. He loved singing the hymns he learned at the United Pentecostal Church in Oakdale, Louisiana. Dad spent countless hours at his desk studying his Bible immersed in the scripture.

Now he's with Naomi and that's all he ever really wanted, to be with the great love of his life forever.

E.G. is survived by his two sons, Michael Bass and David Bass, his daughter-in-law, Noretta Bass, and grandson, Christopher Bass. A loving church family will honor and treasure his memory.