Friday, August 13th, 1937 - Saturday, May 18th, 2024
Marilyn Ruth Bass, elementary teacher, was born in 1937, in Oklahoma, the eldest child of Velma and Harold Poore. Brothers, Wesley, Vernon and Ronnie followed. She lived the majority of her 86 years in Oklahoma, but lived and taught in other states.
Graduating in 1955 from Northeast High School in Oklahoma City, she first enrolled at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. She began her teaching career in Attica, Kansas at the early age of 19. Earning her BS at Central State University, she went on to complete her MS. Following her marriage to Carol David Honeycutt, she moved to Colorado and gave birth to her only daughter (and mother of her granddaughter, Sara) Carolyn Rae Honeycutt, in 1961. Married in 1981 to Jim Bass, she formed a relationship with his children, including Jimmy and Ruby. In the mid-1960’s she moved to Trona, California, and taught in the elementary school there. She also taught one year in Oklahoma City. She returned to Oklahoma in 1967, and began her career at Hoover Elementary. She joked that she never got beyond the third grade.
Marilyn had been in a student club at Phillips, and had association with a number of professional and academic organizations, including the Association of University Women. Following her retirement in the 1990’s, she worked in a local Enid insurance office, and briefly served as a volunteer for the Midgly Museum. Marilyn was proud of her association with Leonardo’s Discovery Museum in Enid. Early in her life in Enid, she was active with Central Christian Church and a number of social groups, including PWP. Art and gardening were among her favorite hobbies. She repeatedly nursed her star magnolia through the harsh Oklahoma winters and kept many plants to decorate her yard and gardens. Marilyn loved pets and birds. Her last companion Chihuahua, Scotch, is being cared for by Brenda Lester. At the end of her life she found witnessing with her JW sisters and brothers to be fulfilling.
Marilyn is survived by her brother, Ronald R. Poore, her grandchild Sam (nee Sara) Smith, his father, Mark Lester and many cousins, nieces and nephews in Oklahoma, Texas, California, and Arizona.
Cremation services are provided by Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory. Inurnment will be privately done on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. A Memorial service will be Monday, May 27, 2024 at 2:30 pm, at The Kingdom Hall, 829 W. Moore. The memorial service will be viewable on Zoom: Zoom#9852465945, and the password is #505144.
Marilyn asked for little ceremony following her passing. A guest book will be provided at the Memorial Service and at the repast following which will be held at the Marriott Springhill Suites on W. Owen K. Garriott in Enid.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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