Reeves' diagnosis with Bright's disease in 1909 finally ended his law enforcement career. He took to his sickbed and died on January 12, 1910. The great lawman was buried in the Union Agency Cemetery at Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Reeves was married twice and had eleven children: Newland, Bennie, George, Lula, Robert, Sally, Edgar, Bass Jr., Harriet, Homer and Alice.

Reeves' status as one of the first black sheriffs plays a significant role as a childhood role model for the character of Will Reeves (Louis Gossett Jr.) in the Watchmen television series. Bass is portrayed by Jamal Akakpo in three episodes featuring a fictional 1920s silent film based on his exploits titled Trust in the Law.