Gordon N. “Sam” Bass, 73 of Spring died July 1, 2011 at The Hampton at Cypress Station in Houston.  Born May 2, 1938 in Port Arthur, Sam was the son of Melba Rudelle Weeren Bass and Reagan Dixon Bass, Sr.  He was a class of 1956 graduate of Nederland High School and graduated from Lamar University in 1975 earning a bachelor of science degree in Engineering Technology.

From 1962 until 1977, Sam was employed with E. I. DuPont Beaumont Works as a draftsman; with Sun Company/Oryx Energy from 1977 until 1992 in various engineering capacities; and from 1996 until 2009 with Amec Paragon. He was a member of the Nederland Jaycees, where he was runner-up for the Distinguished Service Award and  a member of the Nederland Bass Club. He was a Pee Wee Little League Baseball Coach,  Texas Little League Baseball Assistant Coach and a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.  He designed the entrances to DuPont Beaumont Works and Sunoco Terminals Nederland and the Nederland Dutch windmill.  He also was the first place winner in both the NHF Chili Cook-off and Amec Paragon Chili Cook-off.  He also started Sam Bass’ Notorious Barbeque Sauce business.

Sam’s hobbies included boating, salt water and Bass fishing, hunting, traveling, family outings and get-togethers, BBQ’ing, cooking woodworking and home projects.

He is survived by his wife, Rita Faye Moore Bass of Spring; sons, Chad Michael Bass of Kingwood and Jason Newell Bass of Fort Wayne, Indiana; daughter, Wendy Michelle Bass of Sugar Hill, Georgia; grandsons, Zachary Thomas Bass, Cameron Joseph Bass, Alex Michael Bass, Sergei Vasiljevich Bass, Oliver Newell Bass, and Luther Clark Bass.  Sam was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Reagan Dixon Bass, Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 211 Hardy, Nederland followed by burial at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland.  A gathering of family and friends will be Monday evening, July 4, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Broussard’s.