Bass, Merle Hay 1918-2012

BASS, FRIEDLEY, KEMMERER, GRABAU, COWEN, ROOKS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/11/2021 at 17:26:52

Merle Hay Bass
January 25, 1918 - January 13, 2012
Boone

Merle Hay Bass, age 93, a lifelong resident of Boone County, Iowa, and a resident of the Eastern Star Masonic Home, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Following cremation, Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at the Chapel of the Eastern Star Masonic Home in Boone. Visitation, with the family present, will be held prior to the service at the Chapel of the Eastern Star Masonic Home from 1:00 p.m. to the time of service. Rev. Andrea Kraushaar will officiate the service.

Merle was born on January 25, 1918 in Boone, Iowa, the son of Steven E. and Minnie (Friedley) Bass. He graduated in 1936 from Boone High School. On May 17, 1938, Merle married Carolyn Arlene Kemmerer in the Little Brown Church of Nashua, Iowa. Merle was a farmer and worked together with Carolyn on their farm in Jackson Township raising as many as 10,000 chickens a year. He and Carolyn worked at the Iowa State Fair in the Varied Industries Building for 23 years. They enjoyed many winters at Twin Palms Trailer Park in McAllen, Texas. Merle loved woodworking and fixing things. Music was always a part of Merle’s life. He was especially proud of playing his banjo with the Rovers and continued to play with the Eastern Star “kitchen band” until his death.

Merle was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Mt.Olive Lodge No. 79, AF & AM, the High Twelve Club No. 72 in Boone. He was a member and past president of the Boone County Farm Bureau.

Merle was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn, his parents, his son-in-law, Richard “Dick” Grabau, his brother, Donald Bass, his 3 sisters, Frances Cowen, Ruby Rooks, Frieda Johnson.
He is survived by his daughter, Beverly Grabau of Ames; his son, Stephen Edward “Ed” Bass and his wife Donna of Edmond, Oklahoma; 4 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; 4 great great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church of Boone or Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.

Walter ~ Schroeder Funeral Home at Fifth & Story Streets in Boone is in charge of the arrangements.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Merle Hay Bass please visit our Sympathy Store. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 15 Jan 2012.