Bill Bass

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Former Appeals Court Justice Bill Bass died June 20, 2025, at his home in Tyler, Texas. He was 90.
James William (Bill) Bass, Jr. was a soldier, farmer, legislator, lawyer, and justice of the Texas 12th Court of Appeals. He graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (Texas A&M) in 1955. On graduation, he was commissioned lieutenant of field artillery in the Army of the United States. Bill Bass married Patsy Ann McMurray in 1956, and she accompanied him to Germany, where he served 1 1/2 years with NATO forces. On leaving the army, Mr. Bass returned to Martin’s Mill in Van Zandt County to farm, until droughts and hurricanes drove him to attend law school on the GI Bill. While in law school, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, where he represented the people of Henderson, Kaufman, and Van Zandt counties for three terms.
While serving in the Legislature, Bill Bass was a member of a bipartisan ethics reform coalition, then called the “Dirty Thirty.” The Dirty Thirty were 30 members of the House (out of 150) that sought a genuine investigation of the Sharpstown stock fraud scandal, and finally, the removal of the dictatorial Speaker of the House. Ultimately, the Dirty Thirty prevailed. The Speaker was convicted and resigned. The next election resulted in the largest turnover in Texas legislative seats in the 20th century; one time, at least, when the little guys really won.
Mr. Bass left the Legislature to practice law in Canton with his friend and mentor, Clyde Elliott, Jr., until the Governor of Texas appointed him to the 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler, a three-judge court that heard appeals from 18 East Texas counties. He served the 12th Court of Appeals until he retired. In retirement, Justice Bass became a visiting judge, or Senior Appellate Judge. He drew special satisfaction from being named Justice Emeritus of the 12th Court of Appeals. He felt greatly honored to receive the annual Justinian Award from the Smith County Bar Foundation.
Justice Bass was a member of the Texas Constitutional Revision Commission and the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct. He had been a member of the board of All Saints Episcopal School and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. He had been a vestryman in his parish. Although not a Croatian, Justice Bass was a member of the national board of the Croatian American Association during Croatia’s war for independence.
Justice Bass was preceded in death by a daughter, Julia Alexandra Bass, Journal Clerk of the Texas House of Representatives. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Patsy Ann McMurray Bass; a son, James William Bass III, M.D., and wife Dana Taylor Bass of Tyler, Texas; a daughter, Leslie Suzanne Bass and husband David Hudson of Tyler; and a daughter, Elizabeth Eaton Bass and husband Joseph Newman of Sidney, British Columbia. He is also survived by grandsons James William Bass IV and wife Ashley Jones Bass of Conroe, Texas; and Zachary Taylor Bass of Tyler.
A short funeral service will take place Saturday, June 28, at 2:30 p.m. at Holly Springs United Methodist Church, Martin’s Mill, Texas. Pastor: Katlyn Britton. Address: County Road 4403, Ben Wheeler, Texas. The service will be conducted by the Right Reverend Walter Banek, Suffragan Bishop in the Reformed Episcopal Church and Rector of Good Shepherd Church and School in Tyler.
The family very much wants to see and visit with you at the reception following the service at the old Bass farm, 1 1/2 miles from the cemetery. Address: 10947 FM 858, Ben Wheeler. Refreshments and food will be served. There will be no speeches.

Justice Bass loved Martin’s Mill. He requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Holly Springs Cemetery Association, for the maintenance of this beautiful old cemetery. (Address: P.O. Box 311, Canton, Texas 75103.)