April 16, 1957 — Oct. 12, 2019
James B. Bass, 62, husband, father, grandfather, provider and neighborhood grillmaster died peacefully at 4:52 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, with family gathered around at his house following a brief illness.
His family is grateful for the special care provided by the staff of Caring Circle Hospice and others who helped James stay at home and out of the hospital.
He was born as J. B. Bass on April 16, 1957, in Trumann, Arkansas, to Irmalene Bass. Five years later, on the first day of school, a proper first name was required for which he named himself, “James.”
He moved with his family to Michigan where he attended Benton Harbor High School. He soon met Diane Dickerson, with whom he would spend the rest of his life.
He was devoted to provide the income to shelter and nourish his family, sometimes working two jobs and moving his family to California in search of better jobs. They returned to Michigan in 1996, to Niles, where they bought their first house.
He was employed at the former New Energy ethanol plant in South Bend and was currently employed at MAP of Easton, Inc. in Elkhart.
James enjoyed fishing in the Saint Joseph River, usually in Niles or Benton Harbor, and often at night for catfish. He also enjoyed gardening, mostly green tomatoes, greens and every variety of hot peppers.
He would go hunting for deer or rabbit, which he would prepare for meals in the kitchen at home. His best cooking was in the backyard on the grill, especially his barbecued ribs. Grilling combined many interests, including those hot peppers for the rub, listening to the blues and to jazz and fellowshipping with neighbors drawn by the fragrances, sometimes adding their own meat to the grill. He was always careful to adjust the heat of the peppers from “nice” for his wife to “challenging” for the young men at the table.
His greatest interest, efforts and devotion was his family.
On Dec. 23, 1978, he celebrated his relationship with Diane in a wedding in Saint Joseph.
Surviving family includes his wife, Diane Bass; and their daughters, Alicia (Richard Porter) Dickerson, of Long Beach, California, and Shawnte (Marshall) Bass-Merritt, of San Antonio, Texas.
James was so successful naming himself that he gave endearing nicknames to each of his grandchildren, Amanda “Dimps” (Mario) Casul, Brenda Ann “Li’l Bit” Bass, Imani “Tiny Mite” Jerome, Ishmael “Ishy” Wilburn, Adiel “Low Key” Wilburn, James B. “Slick” Bass, Cordell “Money” Merritt, Richard “Rue” Porter and Shantrice “Princess” Merritt.
Also surviving are James’ siblings, Stoney Prowell, of Grand Rapids, Annie Woods, of Los Angeles, California, Jo “Chris” (Will) Bates, of South Bend, and Jolena Prowell, of Benton Harbor; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a 19-year-old son, James Poole; by his mother, Irmalene Bass Prowell; and siblings, Carla June Bass, J. W. Bass and Doris Prowell.
The memorial service for James Bass will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St., Niles, with Rev. Rebeca R. Mitchell officiating.
The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of James may be made to the Niles Noon Optimist Club, P.O. Box 63, Niles. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com.
James was born with an absentee father and his mother died during his childhood, but he persevered as an honorable husband and father, with a disciplined and industrious lifestyle to “feed his babies” and leave a legacy of a successful family who loves him and looks forward to coming home to “the house that James built.”
