Keith Cate’s Eulogy for Francis Bass –

This is the eulogy my brother – Keith Cate – delivered at the funeral service of Francis Irene Bass

Francis Irene Winstead Bass (My Granny)
Eulogy delivered by Grandson, Keith Cate on April 17th, 2008

In the book proverbs: Chapter 31… the scriptures teach us about the “Wife of Noble Character.” She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom… and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed and her husband also, and he praises her.

Today, I arise as one of the children to speak on behalf of a woman who embodied those words.

It was a cold winter morning. So early the sun hadn’t yet come up… so cold I could see my breath as I hurried past the headlights and into the front seat of the already running pickup truck. Beside me. my mom and dad and older brother David. All of us bunched in together on a single bench seat heading east from Nashville to Jefferson City on what
seemed at the time like a cross-country journey that would take forever. I was just a little fellow… and this was one of the greatest days of my life. We were heading to Granny and Papaws house for Christmas. Our young family took that same trip for several years in a row when I was growing up and every year I was filled with the same excitement.

I knew that when we arrived at Granny’s house. the lights and decorations would be up, the tree would be lit, the food would be cooked and ready and on display… and the love would be great. Soon the doorbell would ring and more family members and friends would arrive. We liked seeing all of our aunts and uncles and cousins… especially the kids our own age.

We had a blast despite the fact we were afraid to touch anything for fear of breaking something anything and upsetting Granny’s decorating perfection.

I can only recall a few of the presents I received during those early childhood Christmas celebrations. But I can recall to this day the way Granny made us feel. Granny loved us so much. And we loved her more than words or hugs and kisses could relay.

As the years rolled by the families changed: The kids grew up, and had kids of our own… lots of them. What a family tree that took root when Frank and Francis Bass became one together. Consider the branches: 5- children, 9-grandchildren, 13-grand children and 7 great, great grandchildren. Of course, some of us moved away, but Granny was always ready to welcome us home with a big wide smile.

I share that Christmas memory because it made a lasting impression on me and I’m certain you have similar memories about Granny’s love for us and desire for us to be together.

Whether Granny understood it or not… this was her legacy to me and the legacy I hope to leave to my children and their children to come. Family is important. Second only to our relationship with God The Father who allows us the gift of family ties.

Like all of you, I have many fond memories of Granny:

Her curly white hair… more often than not in a tight perm.
Darker than normal Legs from hours spent baking in the sun.
Her matching wardrobe.
Her perfectly polished and manicured nails.
Her need to paint furniture.
Her love for colorful flowers.
Macaroni and Cheese.
Dollywood.
The joy and pride she took in her children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.
The need to display pictures on every wall and every table.
Her ability to talk about anything to anyone.
Oil of Olay kisses. (added later by Sandra Bass)
And she loved to play the game: “remember when.” She had a terrific memory, especially when it came to the good times with family.

I could go on and on… but I’ll stop the list there.

Granny was a woman who grew in strength and character, beauty and grace for 89-years.
Born in Jefferson City on July 26th, 1918 “Francis Irene Winstead.” The daughter of Mattie Tilda Lou Gilliam or “Louisa Jane” and Mahlon Winstead. She had 2 brothers: Sherman and Woodrow. 1-sister: Cornee Pauline “Polly”. And she also had 10-step brothers.

She was a woman who knew what she liked… even in the early years.

For example: When she was a teenager she took a liking to my papaw, Frank Grady Less Bass… The Georgia Boy. In the early 30’s. papaw was a good looking young man in his early twenties. He was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corp. or (CCC). He and his buddies from Georgia were part of the relief program established under FDR for sons of the great depression. They were trucked to Jefferson City to work on soil erosion and park conservation projects. Papaw worked as a mechanic for about 30-dollars a month. He was also a pretty good guitar picker.

When his bus arrived at the camp on Jaybird Hill in Jefferson City… little did he know his future teenage bride would be waiting with a snowball. She and the other girls hurled them at the bus, flirting with the CCC boys. One night, Francis’ mother “Loisa Jane” allowed young Francis to have a party at the house. Someone invited that good looking Frank Bass to attend so that he could entertain them with his guitar. He must have made a good impression.

And I’m guessing that pretty, sparkling blue-eyed Francis made a good impression on him.. because when he left that night he forgot his guitar. Maybe it was on purpose.
Anyway, as the story goes: Frank returned to pick up his guitar from Francis the next day while on his way to meet another girl on a date. But, the table turned when the young Francis promised to give handsome Frank a Yankee dime if he didn’t go on that date. He didn’t know what a yankee dime was… but he knew enough to break the date he had planned. So he did. And Francis delivered… planting a kiss that would seal a love that lasted a lifetime and beyond. In 1936…When Francis turned 18 she married 24-year old Frank Bass and the love story began several new chapters.

The two of them accomplished a lot during their 50-plus years of marriage. As the years went by. they worked side-by-side trying to make ends meet while starting a family. He worked in the mine and took several auto mechanic jobs and spent some time in Atlanta training to become a master mechanic. She worked as a waitress, a concession stand worker at a roller rink and a plant worker at Magnavox in later years.

Papaw would end his working career as a radio dispatcher for the fire department. Both of them did whatever it took to put food on the table, raise a loving family and keep a roof over their heads. They even built a house together shortly after they married with their own hands. It’s still standing behind her brother Sherman’s house… just up the hill from granny’s homeplace.

Frank and Francis raised four terrific children. All of them share the same loving spirit, sense of humor and dedication to family. The boys: Bill, Gerald and Ronnie. And the daughter every father desires: Sweet Sue. I believe it brought much comfort to Granny knowing that all of her children were around her when she died this week.

I hope it brings comfort to you… as it does me… to know that Granny had a faith in God that kept her strong through to the end. I know she liked Billy Graham and when she was in her final days, struggling to step from this life into her eternal life in heaven. I found this passage about death in one of Billy Graham’s books. It says: “Only one thin veil separates our natural world from the spiritual world. That thin veil we call death. Death for the Christian cuts the cord that hold us captive in this present world so that angels may transport believers to their heavenly inheritance. Death is the gentle voice of the King, inviting us into the banquet house of the World of Glory.”

Billy Graham goes on to remind us how we should be like the evangelist D.L. Moody. When he was aware that death was at hand, he said: “Earth recedes and heaven opens before me.” It appeared as though he was dreaming. Then he said, “No, this is no dream. it is beautiful, it is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” After he was given up for dead… Moody revived to say that God had permitted him to see beyond that thin veil separating the seen from the unseen world. He had been “within the gates and beyond the portals,” and had caught a glimpse of familiar faces whom he had “loved and lost.”

Then he proclaimed: “Some day you will read in the papers that D.L.Moody is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher that is all.. into a house that is immortal, a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned like unto His glorious body.
That which is born of the flesh my die. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”

I believe that Francis Bass (my granny) is alive in heaven where she will live forever with the love of her life Frank Bass (my papaw)… and all of the others who have gone before them. Friends and Family. Can you imagine the Christmas like celebration that is taking place there today. The hugs and kisses, the lights and decorations, the banquet table set with macaroni and cheese, green beans, and sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows. Everything is now finally in its proper place… just the way Granny would have wanted it. And I know that someday… all of us who believe… will eventually be standing at the pearly gates ringing that heavenly door bell. And Granny will be right there waiting for us with a big wide smile and open arms… ready to welcome us home, just like she did all those Christmas’ before… here on this side of God’s creation.

Keith Cate
Anchor/Reporter
200 S. Parker Street, Tampa FL. 33606
office: 813-221-5723 | cell: 813-924-4539 fax: 813-275-8854
e-mail: kcate@wfla.com