Melvin "Sam" Elmore Bass, 72, of Myrtle Beach, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. Born July 30, 1940 in Blythewood, SC, he was a son of the late Ivey Talmadge Bass and Lannie Elizabeth Branham Bass. Mr. Bass retired from the US Air Force after 28 years of service. After his military retirement, he worked for 14 years at Socastee High School in the maintenance department.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Ann Smith Bass of the home; daughter, Lynn Miller of Spartanburg, SC; sons, Tracy (Jan) Bass of Grottoes, VA, Scotty (Becky) Abell, stationed in South Korea, Michael Bass of Cayce; sisters: Grace Bass of Blythewood; Esther (Frank) Thomas of Camden; Sue Brown of Blythewood; Sylvia (Roger) Browning of Blythewood; Becky (Danny) Gunter of Blythewood; brothers: Larry (Eunice) Bass of Sabetha, KS; and Donny (Evelyn) Bass of West Columbia; grandchildren: Travis, Kaitlin, Michael, Matthew, Felicia, Maddison, James, Cassie, and Priscilla; and great-grandchildren: Ashley, Haley, and KeyleeAnn; mother-in-law, Norma S. Worley; brother-in-law, James R. Smith; sister-in-law, Lynn (Ron) Bridges; and sister-in-law, Sandra (Larry) McNeely. Mr. Bass was preceded in death by his brothers, Jerry Bass, Michael Bass, Calvin Bass, and Talmadge Bass.

A funeral service for Mr. Bass will be held at 2 o'clock, Thursday, December 27, 2012 at Shives Funeral Home of Columbia, 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia, with The Rev. Charles Ahtonen and Mr. Ron Bridges officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Bass, Jason McNeely, Travis Jackson, Terrill Bass, Adam Bass, Ricky Smith, and Matthew Bass. Honorary pallbearers will be Carrie Allen, Donnie Bass, Danny Gunter, Roger Browning, Larry McNeely, Larry Bass, and Frank Thomas. Memorial may be made to the American Cancer Society, SC Division, 128 Stonemark Ln, Columbia, SC 29210 or to the Alzheimer's Association, SC Chapter, 3223 Sunset Blvd, Suite 100, West Columbia, SC 29169. A special thank you to the staff and volunteers at Mercy Care Hospice. Melvin was a loving and caring man who was always willing to help others. You are missed by all who knew and loved you.