Vina Jane (Nelson) Bass, daughter of the late Ivan and Grace (Hightower) Kelsay, was born Sep. 3, 1940, and passed away Sep. 28, 2021, at 81 years of age. Momma was a member of and attended Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mountain Grove before moving back to Hartville in 2012. Momma loved where she lived at the Gasconade Neighbors. She always referred to it as her little pad. She had the perfect view to watch the traffic go by. She often commented on the big boats, the many motorcycles and that she had seen some horses and buggies go by. Momma loved being around family and friends and watching her grandkids grow up. She loved watching the squirrels play in her yard and watching the birds (the cardinals were her favorite). In her younger years, she enjoyed going to yard sales and watching soap operas and Jeopardy on TV. As her eyes were failing, her enjoyment was listening to George Jones, The Possum. Momma never complained about anything. She was happy and content, and enjoyed her smokes and Coca-Cola. Momma was one tough cookie, she raised five of us kids by herself. Momma was proud of the way we all turned out. Momma, you did a good job raising us. We all love you. You will be missed so much by many.
Besides her parents, Vina was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy Bass; one daughter, Jackie Mings; one grandson, Matthew Beyer; one granddaughter, Karen Beyer; two sisters, Janette Hudson and Sandra Kelsay; and one son-in-law, Wes Vandergrift. She is survived by three daughters, Delin Beyer and her husband, Tony, of Arkansas; Gwyn Dugger and her husband, Donald, of Utah; and Sheryl Vandergrift, of Hartville; one son, Terry Nelson and Tammy, of Hartville; one brother, Robert Kelsay and his wife, Betty, of Mountain Grove; one sister, Judy Dugger, of Hartville; 14 grandchildren, TJ, Michelle, Ben, Adam, Doug, Mary, Tammy, Jessica, Jeremy, Derek, Dustin, Crystal, Clarissa and Deana; several great-grandchildren; and other extended family and friends who will miss her. Funeral services for Vina (Nelson) Bass will be held Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at 2 p.m. at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home in Hartville, with the Rev. Wayne Cannon officiating. Special song selections will be “On The Wings Of A Dove,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox” and “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be.” Burial will be in Ashley Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Hartville. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.
