Jr Clifton A. Bass

Mr. Clifton Alexander Bass, Jr. 87, of Statesville, passed away Saturday, May 3, 2014, at Autumn Care of Statesville. He was born October 4, 1926 to in Iredell County and was the son of Clifton Alexander Bass, Sr. and Florence Adeline Parlier Bass, both deceased. He is survived by a sister, Mary Frances Bass Gill of Columbia, SC; 2 nieces, Paula Susan Gill and Robyn Elizabeth Gill Wilson of Columbia, SC; 2 sister-in-laws, Marie L. Sharpe of Statesville and Janet Sharpe Chapman (John) of Troutman. The deceased family members besides his parents include his beloved wife of 54 years, Leila Sharpe Bass, who died January 27, 2003, brother-in-law, C. Sam Sharpe, Jr.; and sister, Virginia Eleanor Bass. He is further survived by brother-in-law, Tommy Sharpe and nephews, Shane and Chris Chapman and Wesley and Rodney Sharpe. Clifton retired from J.C. Penney Distribution in 1989 after 42 years of service. A long-time member of New Salem United Methodist Church, Clifton transferred to Wesley Memorial UMC to be close to family. Clifton served in the Navy during WWII, serving on USS Massachusetts, affectionately called "The Mighty Mamie". He served in many conflicts, including the Marshall Islands, Eugena, Saipan, Kamakazi War, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and other engagements in the South Pacific Philippine operations, including a typhoon. Long operations kept them at sea for months on end. Easter morning, 1945, found them on Okinawa where they faced the strongest enemy attacks until the final destruction of the Japanese fleet took place in July of 1945. A memorial service will be conducted 10:00 AM Wednesday, May 7, 2014, in the Wesley Memorial UMC Chapel with Rev. Danny Leonard and Rev. Wesley Sharpe officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Iredell County Veterans Burial Detail will be prior to the memorial service at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will visit with friends following the services at the church. Memorials may be made to Wesley Memorial UMC, 825 Wesley Drive, Statesville, NC 28677. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Clifton Bass, Jr.