Leigh Eric Bass

Leigh Eric Bass, 59, of West Fork, AR, passed away on December 28, 2023. He was surrounded by family and friends after a brief battle with cancer. He was born in Little Rock on March 19,1964, to James and Mary Bass, who preceded him in death. In September, Leigh had to say goodbye to his beloved Uncle Don Spradling. In October, he was saying goodbye to his mom, Mary Bass. He and his sister, Cheryl, were both grieving these losses, but not without hope. With their faith in God, through Jesus Christ, they knew they would see them again. Leigh made Jesus his Savior and Lord a long time ago. Now he is in God’s presence and we sorely grieve here, but with hope. While growing up, his family moved around quite a bit. He attended several different schools, but was always the first one in the family to make friends while the movers were still unpacking the moving truck. He spent three years of High School at Liberty-Eylau High School in Texarkana, TX, but eventually graduated from Hartford High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ouachita Baptist University in 1988. While at OBU he was a member of the Beta Beta Men’s Social Club, worked in the OBU News Bureau and played on the OBU Soccer team. After college, Leigh was a fireman with the Little Rock Fire Department for a time, but later moved on to what he was best at…managing people. He was a true Servant/Leader. Whether it was hundreds of employees he managed at Whirlpool or a smaller team in one of his other management positions, he led by example and was a boss who took great pride in his employees and wanted them to succeed. Leigh was a huge Arkansas Razorback fan, Minnesota Vikings fan (go figure?), loved to golf, fish, and generally hang out and have a great time! He was like his dad…in that he never seemed to meet a stranger. He was a fiercely loyal friend, and he had many friends who loved him like a brother. His only sibling was his big sister Cheryl. Although it has been “alleged” that she told her mom and dad to take that baby back to the hospital, she quickly came to adore him! She loved it when he decided to attend OBU, because she was working there during his freshman year. He used to hide in her office, in Mitchell Hall, during “pledge week.” It was the only place he could get away from Beta members and catch a quick nap. He was a good uncle to her children and she will miss his voice saying, “Hey Sis.” There is so much they shared that only she and Leigh can understand, and to say she will miss him is a complete understatement. In January 2015, Leigh was introduced by friends to a beautiful gal named Shawn. She lived in Fayetteville while he was living in Vilonia and they met in Little Rock…but it was meant to be. Leigh’s family had never seen him happier than when he was with Shawn. They married in May, 2016. Her large and loving family in Northwest Arkansas grew to love Leigh and welcomed him into the fold. He had such plans for the coming years he hoped to share with Shawn. Leigh is survived by his precious wife Shawn; three sons, Hayden Bass and Logan Bass of Conway, and Jacob Bass of Prairie Grove; granddaughter, Gracelyn Bass of Conway; sister, Cheryl Williams (Paul) of Little Rock; nephew Andrew Williams (Susan) of Jackson, MS; nephew Stephen Williams (Allie) of Little Rock; niece, Catherine Shepherd of Cordova, TN; great nieces, Evelyn, Jane, and Eleanor Williams; great nephew, Walker Williams. He is also survived by an extended loving family: Maggie Milligan (Jeff Brooks) and family of Little Rock; Jennifer Evans (Eric) and family of Prairie Grove; John Guenther (Shanda) and family of Fayetteville; Justin Guenther (Jessica) and family of Prairie Grove; Samuel Guenther of Fayetteville; Gillian Brooks (Justin) and family of Springdale; and Savannah Guenther (Katie) of Fayetteville. A Celebration of Life will be held at Oak Cliff Baptist Church, Ft. Smith, AR on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 11:00am. There willbe a time for visiting with the family after the service.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to KalebHouse. www.kalebhouse.org

Leigh Eric Bass

March 19, 1964 - December 28, 2023