Jane Ophelia Harris, daughter of James Corbett (1892-1973) and Annie Vera (Stewart) (1894-1966) Harris was born 10 July 1925, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. Jane graduated from Abilene Christian College, Abilene, Texas where she met her future husband, Samuel Truman "Sam" Bass. Sam and Jane were married 21 December 1947, Nashville. Jane went on to receive a Master's Degree and Educational Specialist Degree, both in business education, from Michigan State University. She taught business courses for 25 years at Okemos High School, retiring in 1990. Jane and Sam then worked together in real estate investments for a number of years. Jane was for decades very involved member of the Holmes Road Church of Christ, Lansing.
Jane and Sam raised three children and celebrated 59 years of marriage together before her death 29 September 2007. Her son, Timothy Brian Bass, OHS '73, predeceased her. She was interred Glendale Cemetery, Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan.
Jane's husband, Dr. Samuel Truman "Sam" Bass, was born 2 December 1925, Hedley, Donley County, Texas. Dr. Bass was the oldest of 15 children raised on a farm in New Mexico. A World War II Army veteran, he graduated from David Lipscomb College (now University), Nashville, Tennessee, and went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Chemistry from George Peabody College (Vanderbilt), Nashville, Tennessee, and finally, in 1971, a PhD in botany and plant pathology from Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan. During his career he taught at Michigan State University, Lansing Community College and at Howell High School. Dr. Bass was called "a man of strong faith and a great love for God." He was a devoted Bible scholar and for decades an active member of Holmes Road Church of Christ, Lansing.
After Jane's 2007 death Dr. Bass remarried. He died 30 December 2013 and was interred next to Jane, Glendale Cemetery, Okemos.