Oct. 24, 1932-Aug. 28, 2012

The Rev. Marion L. Bass, affectionately called "Pastor Pete," was called home by his Lord and savior Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center after fighting a courageous battle of cancer.

A celebration of his life and legacy will be held Thursday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. at Mount Nelson Baptist Church in Eureka.

The family will receive friends after the service in the church fellowship hall. Other times, all visitation is being received at his daughter's home.

Graveside and burial will be held Friday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m. in Eureka Cemetery.

Pastor Pete was born to the late Charlie Bass and Ava Lane Bass. He was the 12th child out of 14 brothers and sisters.

Mr. Bass was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Howell Bass; sisters, Ruby Pender, Alma Rhodes, Nell Sauls, Cynthia Heath and Doris Head; brothers, Joe Bass, Charlie Bass Jr., Dick Bass, Ray Bass, Will Dortch Bass and Clifton Bass.

Mr. Bass is survived by his daughters and his grandchildren.

He is also survived by his canine buddy, Chaos.

He is survived by his remaining brothers.

He leaves behind a legacy of many nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous people he led to the Lord through the years.

Mr. Bass grew up in a small community of Eureka.

He graduated from Eureka High School, attended Atlantic Christian College and received an accounting degree from Wayne Community College.

In his early years, he ran the family store while attending classes at night to increase his education.

He worked as a supervisor in the early years at Barry of Goldsboro and Gas Fired Products, and retired after 18 years as plant manager for Amity Leather Products in Goldsboro.

Through his entire life, Mr. Bass walked the Christian walk. He was saved at an early age, and in his later years, he felt God calling him to witness and preach the gospel. He was active through a 50-year ministry, serving in many capacities through the community and numerous churches.

He gave of his time with ministry through the Gideons, Neuse Baptist Association, lay renewal and beach ministry in Topsail Beach, and served as pastor for Calvary Baptist Church for seven years.

He had served in many capacities at his home church at Mount Nelson Baptist Church as deacon, Sunday school teacher, superintendent of Sunday school and his latest position of minister of visitation.

He continued with his ministry by filling in for many churches at Pineview Baptist, Trinity Baptist and Rivermont in Kinston.

His ministry never stopped. God called him to work as chaplain at Wayne Memorial Hospital for the past five years until his health started to decline.

Mr. Bass left a legacy to many people over the past years of his servanthood to the Lord and community. He most recently received the Volunteer of the Year award by the Ruritan Club for all the many hours of giving of his time to the community and counseling many families through their time of needs.

Mr. Bass never met a stranger, and he never stopped working for the Lord, making sure the gospel was spread to see souls saved and lives changed.

The family would like to express its sincere gratitude and appreciation for all the wonderful care that has been given to Mr. Bass to Dr. Robert Meyers and staff, Dr. James Atkins and all the wonderful staff at Southeastern Medical Oncology Center, Wayne Memorial Hospital nurses, staff and chaplains, Vidant Medical staff, Wake Medical and all the many churches for the prayers, cards and visits, Mount Nelson Baptist Church, Missionary Bible Baptist Church and Wood Grove Church.

Flowers are welcome or donations may be made to Mount Nelson Baptist Church for designation of tape ministry to continue to spread the gospel; Southeastern Cancer Care at Southeastern Medical Oncology Center; or the Gideons.

Obituary edited from original on www.shackleford-howell.com to remove names of living relatives for privacy.