Elizabeth Coale Bass

Elizabeth Coale Bass, 91, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many, passed away on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025 in Fort Worth. She lived a life rooted in faith, service, and a deep love for teaching and family.

Elizabeth was born May 2, 1934, in Fort Worth, Texas to Thompson Eldridge Coale and Lila Bickle Baldwin Coale and grew up in Fort Worth. She graduated from Our Lady of Victory Catholic School. She went on to graduate from TCU with a BA degree in music history and was an accomplished concert pianist. Elizabeth devoted many years to education, serving as a schoolteacher at St. Peter St. Paul Catholic School, Castleberry Independent School District, and Aledo Independent School District, teaching elementary education, reading, mathematics, and computer math. In addition to her classroom work, she shared her love of music as a private piano teacher, nurturing both skill and confidence in her students and having trained professional pianists two of whom are now on Broadway and in academia.

A woman of many quiet joys, Elizabeth loved playing the piano, gardening, and—most of all—giving Christmas presents, a tradition she embraced with generosity and delight. Her faith was central to her life. Elizabeth was deeply committed to the Sisters of Saint Mary Namur and Our Lady of Victory Center where she spent many years volunteering.

Elizabeth is survived by her long-time friend, Dorothy Gray; as well as her children, David Bass (wife, Stacey), Mary Beth Bass (wife, Kathy Fitzsimmons), Sharon Bass (husband, Walter D. James III) and Debbie Havenhill; grandchildren include Lauren Bass (husband, Matt Kaufman), Hillary MacNeil (husband, Alex), William Bass (fiancé, Claire Miller), Jonathan Kinson (wife, Amanda), Andrew Kinson (wife, Haley), Elizabeth Alves (husband, Luke) and Eric Havenhill; great-grandchildren include Carter and Emily MacNeil, Hannah Kaufman, and Coale and Kate Kinson.

A Rosary will be prayed at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, January 5, 2026 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 3312 Dryden Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76109.  Interment will follow at Greenwood Memorial Park.

Elizabeth’s life was marked by faith, learning, music, and love. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, Western Province, 909 W. Shaw Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76110-4057. https://www.ssmnwestern.org/