Obituary: Mike “Cheesy” Bass
Mike “Cheesy” Bass, born on June 19, 1956, in Bolivar, Tennessee, passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, December 26, 2025. A beloved self-employed artist for many years, Mike devoted his life to capturing the beauty around him through his vibrant and evocative paintings. His extraordinary talent knew no bounds, as he painted canvases for numerous celebrities and local schools, not to mention his significant contributions to the art world through his breathtaking billboards for the Coca-Cola company during the 1996 Olympics. His heart, however, truly shone in his charitable work, where he generously donated his art for benefits, allowing others to carry home pieces of his soul.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Mike was a man of faith; he knew the Lord and cultivated a rich relationship with Him, which served as the foundation for the love and kindness he shared with those around him. He loved to scatter joy like confetti in the lives of his family, especially his grandchildren, imparting the magical art of illusion to his nieces and filling their hearts with wonder as he taught them to draw. His kitchen became a sanctuary where stories flowed like sweet nectar, particularly as he presided over pots of bubbling fruit for his famed peach fried pies – a recipe seasoned with laughter and warmth.
He leaves behind a tapestry of love woven from relationships with his family and friends. He is survived by his mother, Helen Howell Lowrance of Middleton; his son, Ray Travis Bass of Athens, Georgia; his beloved grandsons, Gabriel, Matthew, and Michael; his cherished sisters, Charlotte Jeter and Wayne of Bolivar, Donna Dimopulos of Walnut, Mississippi, and Regenia Morrow and Glen of Bolivar; step-brothers Larry Lowrance and Annette of Bolivar, and Randy Ervin of Arlington; along with several nieces and nephews whose lives are forever enriched by his creativity and kindness.
Mike has been reunited with loved ones who have passed, which include his father, Delbert Ray Bass, and his wife, Bonnie Pittman Bass, awaiting his arrival with open arms in the eternal embrace of family.
As we gather to celebrate the life of this brilliant artist and gentle soul, visitation will be held at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Bolivar on Monday, December 29, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and again on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The funeral service will commence on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 1 p.m., leading to his interment at the Reaves Cemetery in Middleton.
Mike Bass was, and always will be, a light in our lives, a master of magic both in art and in life, his spirit indelibly etched in our hearts forever. Memorial contributions in his name may be sent to the American Heart Association or the Reaves Cemetery Fund.
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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