Leslie Bass

(From Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home)

Leslie Clyde Bass was a kind, caring man who, even at 86 years, left us too soon. He departed this life on October 24th, 2021, surrounded by his loving family, who will miss him dearly. 

Even though we had plans for the garden next year, the call to reunite with the love of his life, Dora
Jane, was stronger. In death, he will also see again others that he had lost, such as his parents, Clyde and Jewell, brothers Don and Everett, but most of all his son Gail. who we lost just three years ago, and his daughter Debbie, who had tragically died at age seven.

Leslie left us just four days shy of his 67th wedding anniversary with his “Sug”, Dora Jane. We
remain certain that she told him she didn’t want to spend another anniversary apart, and wanted to go to eat with him at the Cheddars in heaven.

Born in the midst of the Great Depression on April 21st, 1935, Leslie knew hard work at a very young age. He made it through the 8th grade, but the need to work the family’s land was too great, so he spent his days on the tractor, or tending livestock, or generally working his fingers to the bone on whatever it was that needed done.

Leslie fell head over heels for Dora Jane (Chapman), and they were able to start a life with each other outside the crushing weight of the family farm. He began work at the Juvenile Shoe Company in Sarcoxie, where he worked (and was proudly union president) for 33 years. He also tended a farm of his own, which was first located in La Russell, and later outside of Sarcoxie. No stranger to hard work, he would daily wake up to tend the cattle, then go to work at the shoe factory, complete a full shift, then go home to tend the cattle until dark.

After the shoe factory closed, Leslie went to work at HE Williams. He was often seen on his beloved 1981 Honda Goldwing, which he would ride to work, rain or shine. In 1990, Leslie moved with Dora Jane from Missouri to Utah, where together they managed Sunshine Truckstop for 25 years. They had numerous (sometimes mis-)adventures out west, often joined by their family, who would spend extended amounts of time with Leslie and Dora Jane among the mountains. In 2007, they retired back to the family land in Missouri, where they were closer to their kids and grandkids.

Leslie was a lover of westerns, cars, horses, westerns, motorcycles, and westerns. He was also an avid Chevy Chase movie aficionado. You could always tell when he was ready to change the channel, not because he would comment on what was on the TV, but would offhandedly mention “I wonder if there are any good westerns on” to no one in particular. He never met a cake he didn’t like, and was a consummate unsweet tea connoisseur. Leslie was also an accomplished cinnamon roll chef. No food was so good that it could not be enhanced by any combination of Cholula hot sauce (which he would call toe-loo-la), salsa, or ketchup.

Recently, he had divulged an interest in airplanes, although he admitted he was never interested in actually piloting one, and openly wondered how “the damned things didn’t just fall out of the sky.” Nonetheless, when outside he would stare up into the sky, watching the planes soar overhead, and comment on the size of them all.

Leslie, or “LC”, or “Les”, or Dindy (to his grandkids) truly never met a stranger. Years working in a loud factory had severely limited his hearing, which by all accounts worked to his advantage, as he could carry on long conversations with anyone or anything (we are certain there are numerous fence posts between here and Utah that know his life story) without any concern as to what was being said to him. He loved and had extensive knowledge of anything with wheels and a motor, and likely owned whatever was being discussed at some time or another.

Leslie is survived by his beloved grandkids, Kacey Dragoo and husband Tim, Jamey Bass and wife April, Leslie’s adopted grandchild. He also leaves behind his great-grandchildren, Erin and Max Dragoo, and Everett and Kendrick Bass. Leslie also precedes his sister Sue, who by all accounts is a female version of her brother, as well as her children and grandchildren.

Dindy was never seen without a wristwatch. In his final years, unable to overcome the heartbreak of losing Dora Jane, Leslie had lived with his grandkids, Jamey and April. Even in declining health, he would check his watch numerous times, monitoring whether it was time to pick up Everett and Kendrick from school. He would light up when they came through the door, and when Kacey and Tim would visit with Max and Erin.

If our life is measured in what we leave behind, then Leslie truly lived a good life. Yes, there was hardship and pain, but also abundant joy. He will be desperately missed by those he leaves behind, but we find solace in the knowledge that he is joined again with his soulmate, and that he has found true rest at last.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home, Sarcoxie, Missouri.