Mary Jane Bass, 92, passed away April 18, 2022, in Wesley Manor, where she had resided since July 2007.
Mary Jane was born December 22, 1929, in Terre Haute, to Fred N. and Charlotte (Dildine) Dean. She graduated from Decker Chapel High School in 1947 and attended one semester at Purdue University before marrying the love of her life, Franklin Kaye Bass, in Knox County, Indiana on June 27, 1948.
Alongside Kaye, Mary Jane served churches in the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, including New Haven UMC, Bluffton First UMC, Elkhart First UMC, Lafayette Christ Methodist Church, Flora Methodist Church, Lafayette Stidham Methodist Church and Reynolds and Guernsey Methodist Churches. She was a member of West Lafayette UMC; First UMC United Methodist Women, where she served as President 1992-1996 and named Woman of the Year 2003; and Purdue Alumni Association. She was a former President and Secretary of the Lafayette District United Methodist Women, former President of Marion District United Methodist Women, 1999 Dean of North Indiana School of Christian Mission, a former member and secretary of Lucille Raines Residence Board, an eight-year Indianapolis 4-H member, and sang at the State Fair in 1946 and 1947. She was also very active in various activities and events at Wesley Manor, including the Chapel choir, United Methodist Women, PEO, and Singing Saints.
Surviving Mary Jane are her sons, David A. Bass of Richmond and Mark D. (Cindy) Bass of Lafayette; daughters, C. Elaine Drew of Indianapolis and Gail K. (Rick) Voteau of Chesterfield, Missouri; sisters, Carolyn J. Horrall of Mulberry, Joyce Dean (Mary Ellen Batiuk) of Dayton, Ohio; sister-in-law, Shirley Dean of Bixby, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Jared A. Bass of Lafayette; Russell (Emilie) Drew of Denver, Colorado; and Renee K. Voteau and Stephanie P. Voteau, both of Chesterfield, Missouri; and one great granddaughter, Madeleine Drew.
In addition to her husband, Mary Jane is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Melba Overstreet and Ruth Ann Dean; brother, Stanley A. Dean; and a brother-in-law, Paul Horrall.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at Genda Funeral Home, from 10am until the start of the funeral service at 11am. Committal will follow at 2pm at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens. In lieu of flora arrangements, memorials may be made in Mary Jane’s honor, to Wesley Manor Employee Appreciation Fund. Online condolences may be left at www.gendafuneralhome.com.