Robert Earl "Bobby" Bass

Robert E. ""Bobby"" Bass died peacefully at his home early Thursday morning with his family at his side, following his lengthy, hard-fought battle against cancer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip Oswald ""P. O."" Bass and Inez Elizabeth Rose Bass, and his brother, Phillip J. ""J. P."" Bass.
Bobby is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marguerite Stephanie Welch Bass; his five sons, Robert, Jr. (Becky), David (Joretta), John (Sharon), Steven (Susan), and James; eight grandchildren, Bob, Stephanie, Brent, Tanner, Phillip, Kyle, Derek, and Ryan.
Bobby was a native of Gulfport, graduating from St. John High School in 1952. After getting married in 1953, he and his wife, Stephanie, eventually settled in Long Beach, the town his great grandmother, Elevine Bass, made home in the 1870s, for his grandfather, Wade, and his grandfather's brothers, Mount and Will, and sister, Elizabeth.
Bobby worked his entire 43-year career in the dredging industry, hiring on with Standard Dredging Company as an Oiler in the engine room of the Dredge ""Diesel"" in 1953. Bobby remained on the ""Diesel"" for the better part of three decades, rising to the level of Chief Engineer, even as the dredge was transferred from Standard Dredging to Williams-McWilliams Dredging to its final owner, T. L. James Dredging of New Orleans, Louisiana. During his tenure with T. L. James, Bobby with regret left the ""Diesel"" to become one of two Port Chiefs with the company, responsible for the engine room activities of half its dredging fleet. His heart remained with the ""Diesel"" however and one of his prized possessions was the large scale model of the dredge his sons presented him upon his retirement.
After retiring, Bobby remained active with numerous renovation projects around the house and extensive travel throughout the United States, Canada, and Ireland. He had a natural talent for woodworking, building beautiful pieces of furniture and cabinetry from no more than a rough, hand sketch direct from his mind's eye. He loved to watch football, particularly his New Orleans Saints and any of the area college football teams as his children and grandchildren attended most of them.
Bobby loved his family and was happiest when he had them around him. He enjoyed working with his sons on projects at their own homes. Bobby was a good Catholic, spending most of his adult life as a parishioner of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Long Beach, although he had an affinity for a 4PM Mass offered anywhere close by.
The family thanks Paul Cook, Lisa Bisette, and Richard Spratley of Odyssey Hospice for the considerate and loving care they extended to Bobby during his final difficult weeks of illness. Also in their thoughts are Dr. Edwin Davidson and his staff, especially Judy Douglas, Dr. Ron Brown, and the exceptional staff of M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 28, at Noon at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Long Beach with a visitation for family and friends beginning at 10:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy be made to the American Cancer Society, 417 Security Square, Gulfport, MS 39507, or to St. Thomas Catholic Church, P. O. Box 1529, Long Beach, MS 39560.
The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Long Beach, is in charge of arrangements.