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Johnathan Michael Bash

Jonathan Michael Bash, 32, of Stigler passed away Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in Stigler. He was born Jan. 17, 1985, in Bakersfield, Calif. to Tommy and Cindy (Destefani) Bash. Jonathan, his older brother Justy (1980-1997) and their parents moved from Old River, Calif. to Enterprise in September 1994.
Jonathan attended Lakeside Union School in Old River, Calif., and Quinton Public Schools in Quinton.
Jonathan took his first official paying job at McDonald’s in Stigler the day he turned 16-years-old. He worked for McDonald’s in Stigler, Eufaula and McAlester, Marine Development Inc., Redwine/Longroad and was working for Mike Krebbs Construction Company as a “Roustabout” at the time of his death.
Jonathan was also on the Brooken Volunteer Fire Department and had been with the department for five years and had made captain within three years. They called him “Johnny-on-the-Spot” and “Firebug.” He was called “Johnny-on-the-Spot” because he was always the first one at the scene of an accident, medical emergency or fire. Captain Bash always had his gear/medical bag with him, whether he was going to his regular job, taking his children to their rodeos, going to his drag racing or a burnout contest. There’s been many times during a rodeo that someone would be injured and Captain Bash “Johnny-on-the-Spot” would grab his medical bag and hop over the fence and would be working on the man, woman or child before the other responders would arrive. Captain Bash received his nickname “Firebug” during the Longtown fires in 2015 because he was ordered to light the back fires. Captain Bash was also a champion calf, steer and bull rider. Jonathan started riding calves at the age of five, then graduated to steers and then to the big bulls. He won many trophies and belt buckles. In 2010, he had to stop riding due to blowing his knee out while working for Redwine. But no matter, when he would be at a rodeo with his children he was always helping out. After his knee was injured, he began racing cars at the 1/8th mile drag strips. Everything Captain Bash did (called #“B3”), he did out of the love of life, family and people.
Captain Bash is survived by his parents, Tommy and Cindy Bash of Enterprise; his three daughters, Madison, Londan and Sydney of Whitefield; his son, Justy Bash II of Checotah; four sisters, Shannon Lee Bash and Candis Green of California, Kristina Kestner and Shannon Backes of Minnesota; his two brothers, Bobby Black of Minnesota, Little Moreno of California; Uncle Bill “Tiger” Destefani of California; three aunts, Mellissa Thoreson of Washington, Anette Young of Oregon, Vicki Dallas of Ohio; paternal grandmother, Barbara Patrick of Stigler; numerous extended families of nieces, nephews, cousins and adopted brothers, sisters, his rodeo family, racing family, emergency services family and his team of the Brooken Volunteer Fire Department.
Captain Bash was preceded in death by his brother, Justy Bash; Uncle Henry Destefani; maternal grandparents, Jocko and Tresa (Chapman) Destefani; paternal grandfather, Ray “Pops” Bash.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, at the Sandridge Pentecostal Church with the Rev. Justin Monks officiating. Pallbearers included Andrew Bohanan, Ben Bohanan, Adam Dawson, Little Moreno, Cody Ward, Brooken Fire Chief Jack Denny.
Honorary pallbearers included The Brooken Fire Department, #9 Fire Department Chief Danny Choate, Haskell County Sheriff Tim Turner, Rick Moreno, Barry Bradshaw, Katrina Apple, Mary Watts and McCurtain Fire Chief David Fox.
Burial followed immediately at Mountain Home Cemetery under the direction of King & Shearwood Funeral Home of Stigler.

Stigler News-Sentinel

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