Christine Gaines-Bass' Obituary
I was born on January 4, 1935, to the union of Frank Walls Sr. and Pollie Scullark. I attended Colman Elementary and DuSable High School in Chicago, graduating in 1953. My brothers, Frank Jr., Montell, Clement, Isaac, my sister, Gloria, and my parents preceded me in death.
In 1973, my husband Leonard Gaines, daughter Rhonda, and I moved to Newark, New Jersey, where I worked for Prudential Life Insurance Company. After moving back to Chicago for a brief time. Leonard and I made our way to California, where I worked for the Hughes Aircraft Corporation.
Following a divorce, I moved to beautiful Lakewood, Washington in 1989 and worked for Washington Mutual Bank. After semi-retirement, I dedicated myself to serving my community as a volunteer at Saint Clare Hospital for 11 years. I married James U. Bass, and we enjoyed our lives and this city until his passing in 2012.
Throughout my life I enjoyed church, bowling, bid whist, traveling, and making new friends, and I had the best life a person could have. I hope my dear family and friends cherish my memory as they continue to press on in the years to come. I mention some of you here but please charge any omissions to my head and not my heart. My family: My daughter Rhonda (Clifton Porter), stepsons, Eric (Stacey Gilbert) and Marc (Natalie), step-grandsons Kito and Gyasi, nieces Angel, Noreen, Meicha, Nannie, and Renee, nephews Tyrone, Tony, Elbert, Lee Russell, Anthony, Kema (Rachel), and Gary (Rhonda), cousins Rodney, Charlotte, Richelle (Tazh), Renee (Walter), and their families.
My Chicago Connection: Robert Jones, Lois ‘Lady’ Leflore, Katurah Crawford, Darlene Rockett, Maxine Fleming, Lola Mays, Yvonne Henry, and Vera Threatt.
My Lakewood Connection: Pastor Kellcy and the First Baptist Church of Lakewood, my adopted family Linda Kaye and Elias Ngungu, Roman, special friends Rose, John, Nancy, Ellen, Sheilla, Maria, caring neighbors James, Stan, Michele, and all the other friends, relatives, and acquaintances that 89 years could hold.
“Sorry to leave all you beautiful people but…my get up and go got up and finally went…Love y’all” - Chris
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