Julie Joanne Bass was born to Joe and Carol Bass on Friday, August 13, 1976, in Big Spring, TX.
Julie was raised in Del Rio, TX and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School till 1987, when her and her family moved to Germany where her father was stationed. She attended Zweiibrucken Middle and and High School where she was a cheerleader for the Zweii High Trojans, and surrounded herself with long lasting friendships from all over the world. (Natalie, Tracy, Tawni, Kelly W., Beth, Jen...and so many more)
Later the Bass family moved back to the states for another tour in Del Rio, TX where Julie was a cheerleader for the Del Rio Rams. She once again was surrounded with wonderful friends (Farrah, Amy G., Amy M., Cynthia, Penny). In 1993 Julie's father retired to his hometown and the family moved to Snyder, Texas where Julie graduated Snyder High School in 1994. None-the-less she managed to become part of another wonderful group of girls (Kari, Amy, Shelley, Stephanie, Hayley, Annie B., Annie R., Tammy....)
After high school she attended Angelo State University, in San Angelo, TX and received a degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in counseling. She served her internship in Lubbock, Texas with Joe Arrington Cancer Center, counseling patients.
Julie moved to Twenty-Nine Palms, California and worked as a counselor in the Yucca Valley area. She married Cade Walton on July 4, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She devoted her life to her husband, family and children. People gravitated to Julie for friendship, guidance, and love. She had so many friends, she brought people together.
Julie was a member of the Key Volunteer - Network for the 3rd Batallion, 4th Marines and played an integral part in keeping the support system working for all of the Marine wives. Julie was raised in a military family growing up and she excelled at being a Marine's wife, which she LOVED being. Those that knew Julie, knew her patriotic side, and she had plenty of experience as a cheerleader...she was the most supporting and loving marine wife ever!
In 2005, Julie, Cade, and Lynsey moved to Midland, TX. Julie was California thru and thru but Texan at heart. Julie quickly made addtional life long friends (Kasi, Kim, Joy, Lisa McL., Lisa H.) and joined Midland Junior Women's Club and enjoyed volunteering. She kept busy with Lynsey's school activities, cheerleading, soccer, ballet, indian princess...
Julie loved making trips to Lubbock, Ft. Worth, or her computer to shop! She loved Ruidoso family weekend getaways, she loved Willie Nelson, and New Kids On The Block. She loved magic cookie bars, chocolate milk, sweet tarts and caprese salad. She loved 4th of July, being pool side, and her iTunes. She loved Shoes.
Julie defines 'Alpha Mom' in all she did for her girls. Lynsey learned from the best and was encouraged from the best to be herself, and to "BE sweet and Be Smart" as Julie would tell her every morning while dropping her off at school. Julie instilled socialism into Lynsey from the get go, signing her up for all sorts of activities, and play dates. Lynsey is so much like Julie in so many ways.
August 20, 2006 Ryann Caden Walton was born. Julie had gone against doctors orders and traveled to Lubbock to be with her family while her dad, Joe had emergency quadruple bypass surgery. Julie went into labor the next day (most likely due to stress) and had Ryann in Lubbock, TX. Julie was amazing! Her delievery was quick and easy...or she made it look that way anyway! Ha! She wanted Pei Wei's to eat as soon as she was able!
Julie's words:
"In Sept 2007, I found a lump in my right breast. It was painful & I attempted to make doctor appointments, they were changed and cancelled due to my doctor's busy schedule. I finally was seen by one of my doctor's PA's, who ordered an ultrasound. He told me he wanted to order a biopsy to be safe but he called me back to tell me that the doctor (Dr. Madden in Midland) disagreed & felt I had no reason to have a biopsy. They suggested I cut out caffeine & come back in six months.
I did cut out caffeine & the lump continued to be painful & seemed to be growing. After several more phone calls to my doctor, who still had yet to see me in person, I saw both of his PA's who sent me in for another ultrasound & mammogram. They were inconclusive & I actually received a letter from Dr. Madden, who'd been too busy to see me himself, saying "it was probably nothing."
On Feb 21, 2008 at the age of 31, after just returning home from our attorney's where I signed my will & living will, I learned that "nothing" that Dr. Madden wasn't worried about was breast cancer.
(FYI I have no history in my family & don't fit the typical case in age, race, I'm not Jewish decent etc.)
And so began my nightmare. As awful as my nightmare is & the fact that its not over yet, I can say that I have been carried through it on a silver platter. My amazing family, my amazing friends, even amazing strangers & acquaintances have lifted me up & carried me through this nightmare. People have come to my rescue sometimes before I knew what I needed & there is a long line of people who are waiting for me to tell them how they can help me. I have been shown love in wonderfully sweet ways. As bizarre as this sounds- its as if I got the benefit of seeing how much I matter & who loves me, without a funeral! I have saved all of your cards, re-read several times all of your emails, eaten meals cooked with love, smiled as I was surrounded with cheerful flowers, felt your sincerity & your prayers & saw your love and concern. I cannot ask for more, for better people to be surrounded by & I'm completely overwhelmed in a way that makes the words "thank you" so inadequate.
I am pissed that cancer knocked on my door & interrupted my family's life & cursed me. I hate to be anyone's stress or burden or reason for worry. But I'm blessed with YOU & I'll use those two little words, THANK YOU, until Webster's can come up with words that better sum up the ocean of gratitude I feel.
I'm still bald but my shoes are cute and we all go on!"
~Julie Bass Walton
From the day Julie was diagnosed her life changed as did all of ours that knew her. Julie's sister Jamie, neice Teaghan were packed and moved to Midland by week end. She and Julie wanted nothing more than to be close and allow their girls to grow up as cousins who actually knew eachother. Jamie wanted to be able to help with the kids and doctor appointments, and daily tasks, but we were going to beat this no matter what.
I've never seen, read about, nor witnessed someone so brave and so couragrous as Julie. The hardest thing she had to do was 'let go and let God.' She so did not want to disappoint any of those that loved her. She wanted to beat this and give the credit to everyone around her for all their support and 'cheerleading' they did. She did not want to let you all down.
"I remember driving home after dropping Lynsey off at school, and listening to Ryann babble in her car seat. I gripped my stearing wheel and said to myself "I love my life." I did not need a wake up call! All I ever wanted to be was a wife and a mother!" ~Julie Bass Walton
On December 6, 2010 after a long, hard battle Julie went to be with our Lord. Her daughters Lynsey and Ryann as well as her niece Teaghan had each been in earlier that day to tell Julie how much they loved her...not really knowing what the end of the day would hold.
Julie was held all day in bed by her mother, and while her father, her husband, her sister, and her best friend all held her hands, her arms, legs, stroked her hair, talked and prayed with her... she finally had peace.
Survivors include her husband, Cade Walton of Midland, TX; two daughters, Lynsey and Ryann Walton both of Midland; parents, Joe and Carol Bass of Snyder, TX; A sister & niece, Jamie Bass & Teaghan Bass of Midland; grandparents, Don & Joanne Sleeman of Lincoln City, OR, and E.D. Walton of Snyder; mother in law, Sally Walton of Lubbock; father and mother in law, Dalton and Linda Walton of Snyder, TX; uncle Bill Bass and wife Melissa of Houston, TX; aunt Candy Drummond and husband Steve of Midland; uncle David Sleeman and wife Tiffany of Coos Bay, OR; aunt Jan Loyer of Cambridge, OH; sister, Jackie Bass of Austin, TX; sister in law, Kristen Kendrick and husband Scott of Cedar Park, TX; additional nieces and nephews, Natalie and Nathan Kendrick; cousins, Jenny Kiggans, Jeremy Culwell, Daniel Sleeman, Tanner and Reilly Bass, Christopher Sleeman, and Tiffany Drummond; and her dearest friend Natalie Meszaros and family of Phoenix, AZ.
She was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Prentis & Joyce Bass formerly of Snyder, TX.