Nancy Lee Bass (March 7, 1917 – February 28, 2013) was an American philanthropist. She was known as the "First Lady of Fort Worth, Texas."[1]
Early life
Nancy Lee Muse was born on March 7, 1917, in Fort Worth, Texas.[2][3] Her father was Ewell H. Muse and her mother, Roberta Maddox Muse.[2] She grew up in Fort Worth, where she learned to play the piano from a young age.[3][4] She was educated at Central High School, later known as Paschal High School, in Fort Worth.[3][4] She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1937.[2][4][5]
She was the recipient of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Gloria Lupton Tennison Pioneer Award and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Texas Ex-Students Association as well as the Golden Deeds Award from the Exchange Club of Fort Worth.[1][8]
Personal life
She married Perry Richardson Bass at the First Methodist Church of Fort Worth in 1941.[3][5][10] They had met in a dance hall in Fort Worth.[3] They had four sons:
Mrs. Bass also had ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.[11] Throughout her lifetime she was an active citizen to her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. Governor Rick Perry described her communal services as, "touching the lives of many in Fort Worth, Texas and the country, yet preferring to stay humble rather than in the spotlight.[11]
She became a widow upon her spouse's death in 2006.[5]
Death
She died on February 28, 2013, in Fort Worth, Texas.[5] She was ninety-five years old.[5] Her memorial service took place at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth on March 16, 2013, with musical performance by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.[2]
