Thomas Ray Bass

Thomas Ray Bass, October 13, 1969, passed away July 16, 2026, after a long and courageous fight with cancer. He was born in Bear Grass, North Carolina and soon relocated with the family to Elm City, North Carolina where Thomas would graduate from Beddingfield High School. He began a career as a surveyor and has been working with Bartlett Engineering since 2006 where he would work diligently until his passing. Thomas enjoyed hunting, fishing, and weekends on the boat. He wasn’t just a pillar of the community; he was a vast part of it. Wanna go out to eat? Thomas was down. Wanna cookout in the backyard? Thomas was coming or you could go to his house. Wanna go fishing? Thomas was there. At the boat ramp at 4:00 in the morning! Hunting? Name the time and place, he was there. Thomas was there with a smile on his face that would surely put a smile on yours! Thomas was the light of every event.

He is survived by his son, Steven Wesley Bass of Raleigh, North Carolina; his brother Johnny Bass (Laura) of Hertford, North Carolina; and his sisters Gloria Stoudemire (Glenn) of Louisburg, North Carolina, Tammy Bass and Sy’Donna Braswell (Randy) both of Elm City, North Carolina; seven nieces and nephews; fourteen great- nieces and nephews, his little buddy, Nathan and a community too numerous to count.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, William “Buck” and Jean Harrison Bass of Elm City, North Carolina and his infant brother, William Herbert Bass.

The family will receive friends on August 1, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1 p.m. at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway followed by a visitation at Thomas’ home of beginning at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Thomas’s memory to consider a donation to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, 14600 Weston Parkway, Cary North Carolina 27513. Every contribution helps advance lifesaving research and offers hope to those whose lives have been touched by cancer.

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.