Father Cletus Maurice Patrick Bash

Reverend Cletus Maurice Patrick Bash (81) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 18, 1929. He graduated from Holy Family High School, Tulsa in 1947 and attended Bethany Preparatory Seminary, Oklahoma City; St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and St. John's Seminary, Little Rock, Ark. He was ordained on May 26, 1956 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Oklahoma City by Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness. When asked about his call to the priesthood, Father Bash remembered, "As a young boy, I always considered becoming a priest. If I had it to do over again I wouldn't trade it for anything." During his more than fifty years of service to the Diocese of Tulsa and Oklahoma City and the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Father Bash served the following parishes and churches: St. James Church, Oklahoma City; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sterling; Sacred Heart Parish, Fairfax and missions, St. John Church, Pawnee and St. Ann Church, Shidler; Queen of All Saints Church, Sayre and the mission church in Cheyenne; Sacred Heart Parish, Skiatook: Our Lady of Victory Church, Purcell and Saint Paul Church, Lexington; St. Barbara Church now Holy Family, Lawton; Assumption Church, Duncan and its missions in Rush Springs and Marlow; Saints Peter and Paul Church, Hobart and Saint Joseph Church, Blackwell. He also served as Chaplain at Saint Anthony's Hospital and Mercy Hospital, Oklahoma City and the State Reformatory, Granite. Father Bash retired in June 3, 2003; however, he continued to serve the Archdiocese as Chaplain at Saint Ann Nursing Home, Oklahoma City. Father Bash also frequently celebrated Mass for those attending daily Mass at the Catholic Pastoral Center. Father Bash is predeceased by his parents Linus and Catherine McIntire Bash, his brothers Leonard Joseph Bash and wife Dolores and John Clement Bash and his sisters Theresa Bash, Mary Zita Bash Dean and husband S. J. Dean, Jr. and Bernice Leota Bernice Bash. He is survived by his nieces, nephews, cousins and many caring friends and colleagues. His family especially remembers his wit and humor and ability to make them laugh.