Bruce Lee “Sam” Bass was born December 21, 1943 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Wiley Franklin and Juanita Silva (Lyles) Bass.  He passed away March 13, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 73.  Sam grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated from John Marshall High School class of 1961.  He was extremely proud of his service to our country in the United States Marine Corps including a tour in Vietnam and as a Drill Instructor at Camp Pendleton, California.  While in California, he worked for Southwestern Bell, and later was equally proud to serve as a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department from 1967 to 1990.  After his retirement Sam and his family moved to Wellston where he worked for the Protection Department of the Federal Reserve Bank in Oklahoma City for 13 years.  He retired again and enjoyed riding his tractor and watching and attending NASCAR events.  Sam loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Sam is preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Clyde Bass.  Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Susan Bass of the home; children, Jeanette Bass, Michael Bass both of Hemet, California, Jason Bass and his wife Ashley of Oklahoma City, Amber Bass of Woodstock, Georgia, Lisa and her husband Danny Dober of Cape Carteret, North Carolina; (5) grandsons, Matthew, Jason, Christopher, Sam, Spencer; (2) great-grandchildren, Odin, Athena; sister, Beverly and her husband, Chuck Elrod of Oklahoma City; fellow marines and law enforcement officers; along with other family and friends.

A local memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Lehman Funeral Home Chapel.  Sam will receive full military honors at a memorial service at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 6, 2017 on the beach at the Top Notch Beach House, 6101 Ocean Drive, Emerald Isle, North Carolina.  Arrangements are under the direction of Lehman Funeral Home of Wellston.