Mary Elizabeth (Leek) Bass, 89, of Loxahatchee, Florida, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026. Born on May 30, 1936, to James Marshall and Nannie Mae Leek in Springfield, Tennessee, Mary grew up on a 100-acre family farm where she helped milk cows and bring in the harvest. A straight-A student and varsity basketball player, she graduated from Springfield High School in 1954 before moving to Marietta, Georgia, for college. There she met John Benton Bass, a seminary student, and they married in Springfield in 1956.
Together Mary and John raised four sons—John Jr., James, Wesley, and Paul—while planting two churches and pastoring six others. In addition to supporting her husband’s ministry and caring for their growing family, Mary worked as a schoolteacher and clerical worker. She found deep joy in teaching, sharing her faith, and opening her home to others through hospitality. In retirement she delighted in spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cherishing quiet walks, meals shared with friends, and peaceful afternoons swinging on the front porch with loved ones.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, her siblings James Leek, Jewel Jakes, Nellie Simpkins, and Martha Ralph, her husband John Bass, and her daughter-in-law Veronica Bass. She is survived by her sons, John Bass Jr., James (Kimberly) Bass, Wesley Bass, and Paul (Kathleen) Bass; grandchildren James (Shannon) Bass Jr., Amie (Riley) O’Neal, William (Emily) Bass, Evelyn Bass, Joelle Bass, Mollie Bass, Teegan Bass, and Ketzia Bass; and great-grandchildren Zoey Bass, Mariella O’Neal, Elizabeth O’Neal, Corbin O’Neal, Vera Bass, and Opal Bass.
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