Lois Denean Bass, known to those who loved her simply as Denean, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on August 7, 1958, in Hobbs, New Mexico, to Wilson Carroll Brem and Lois Smith.

Denean dedicated 22 years of her life to Ector County Independent School District as a school bus driver. To Denean, driving a school bus was about much more than getting children from one destination to another. She genuinely cared for every child who climbed aboard her bus and made sure each one knew they were loved, valued, and cared for. Her bus became a place where countless children felt seen and welcomed, and the relationships she built with them were among the things she cherished most.

Denean had several passions in life, and when she loved something, she loved it wholeheartedly. Her love for Elvis Presley was legendary. Calling her a die-hard Elvis fan would be an understatement. If it had Elvis on it, Denean wanted it, and her collection reflected just how much he meant to her. Later in life, she developed an equally enthusiastic love for dragons, adding another obsession to the list of things that brought her joy.

Denean was also a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan. She never backed down when it came to defending her Cowboys, and anyone who dared to say something negative about her team was sure to hear exactly why they were wrong and why they were going to the Super Bowl that year. She also loved watching Investigation Discovery, especially her favorite true-crime programs. Kenneth knew better than to interrupt her television time when her shows were on.

Above all of her hobbies and passions, nothing compared to the love Denean had for her family. Her husband of 47 years, Kenneth, and her children were the center of her world. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend whose presence brought personality, laughter, and love into the lives of those around her.

Denean is survived by her husband, Kenneth Bass; daughters, Rhonda (Tye) Blake and Kendra Bass; son, Stephen (Irene) Bass; mother, Lois Smith; sisters, Carol Bullard, Diane Long, and Marlynn Garcia; grandchildren, Demone Bass, Christopher Blake, Tyler Blake, Lakenzie Bellinger, Leon Bass, and Ashley Busche; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Wilson Carroll Brem; stepfather, Windol Smith; father-in-law, Ray Bass; mother-in-law, Willy May Bass; sister, Sheryl Brum; brother-in-law, Rubin Bullard; granddaughter, Alisha Blake; nephew, Joey Williams; niece, Karen Knox; and great-niece, Cassie Steele.

Denean will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Her love for her family, her devotion to the children she cared for, her Elvis collection, her dragons, her Cowboys, and her favorite television shows were all pieces of the unique and unforgettable woman she was. Her memory will live on through the countless lives she touched and the family she loved so deeply.