Ernest "Guy" Bass

Ernest Guyton "Guy" Bass, Jr., died peacefully on March 21, 2014, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was born on January 26, 1934 in Vidalia, Georgia to Margaret Louise Wilson and Ernest Guyton Bass, Sr., and the family moved to south Florida when Guy was six months old. Guy graduated from Fort Lauderdale High in 1951 where he was a proud "Flying L" football player and a member of the marching band. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1955, and remained an avid Gator fan throughout his life. Guy was married to his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Grace DeShields for 59 years. They were inseparable until his disease demanded special care. At the University of Florida Guy majored in Real Estate, one of the first such programs in the country. Guy was an extremely successful Realtor, known for his integrity and his willingness to mentor those coming into the business. At age 44 he was elected as the President of the Florida Association of Realtors, and at the time he was the youngest person ever to fill that office. Guy relished being a Realtor, and owned a real estate firm for fifty-five years. He gave his time proudly and tirelessly and served on countless...[more]

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ards, including the SunTrust Board (over 40 years), the Fort Lauderdale Planning and Zoning Board (17 years), the Broward Community College Board of Directors (President, 1989), and the Girl Scouts of America Board. He was named one of five outstanding young men in 1967 by the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. Guy was a great fisherman, loved both deep sea and fresh water fishing, and was known for his ability to find the fish long before the invention of sonar fishfinders. He fished in Florida as well as in the North Carolina mountains where his family had a cottage in Balsam. Guy and his family enjoyed snow skiing in Colorado with friends. He loved tennis and once was written up in the city paper for lasting 109 games to defeat his opponent and win his class in the city tournament. Such persistence and determination marked his style, and he was always up for a challenge. His favorite hobby was flying a private plane; nothing made him happier. Guy was a member and served on the board of the Lauderdale Yacht Club and was a long time member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as Trustee. Guy is survived by Jeanne and their three children: Dr. Brenda Bass (Ken Jones) of Salt Lake City, Guyton Brett Bass (Caroline) of Fort Lauderdale, and Dr. Brian Bass (Susie) of Raleigh, NC, ten grandchildren: Guyton Brett Bass, Jr., Sarah Catherine Bass, Nelson Wayne Bass, Tyler Bentz and Justice Bentz of Fort Lauderdale; Christopher Brian Bass, Andrew William Bass, Matthew Edmond Bass, Rachel Suzanne Bass and Patrick James Bass of Raleigh, and his brother, Fred Bass of Georgia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Guy Bass Jr. Memorial Fund at the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org or P.O. Box 96011 Washington, DC 20090-6011). Visitation, Friday March 28, 2014 from 6-8pm at Fred Hunter's Funeral Home, 718 S. Federal Hwy., Ft. Lauderdale 33316. A Memorial Service at First Presbyterian Church, 401 SE 15 Ave., Ft. Lauderdale 33301, Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 1pm. Private family interment prior to service in Evergreen Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at www.fredhunters.com.