SKOWHEGAN – Norman Lawrence “Larry” Chase passed away peacefully at home at the age of 84. He was born March 24, 1938 to Norman Leslie and Gwendolyn (Spalding) Chase in Skowhegan, Maine. He graduated from Skowhegan High School with the Class of 1956.

Norman continued on to the University of Maine (Orono) majoring in Forestry. He was a Brother in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and graduated June 5, 1960. On June 11, 1960 he married the former Bernice Jones of Norridgewock, and the couple enjoyed 62 years of wedded life. On June 13, 1960 Norman entered the workforce with Scott Paper Company as a wood scaler on a boom in the Kennebec River in Madison.

In 1961 Norman was drafted by the U.S. Army and served in the 25th Infantry Division Artillery Headquarters at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii for two years. After his honorable discharge, Norman returned to work in the forest industry in Bingham and Jackman, and spent 21 years in Greenville as a forester and district forester. He was able to return to Skowhegan as Procurement and Sales Manager for Sappi. When the woodlands were sold in 1998, he retired after 36 years of dedicated service in the Northeast Timberlands.

In his retirement he and his wife Bernice traveled the US coast to coast. He also spent many hours in retirement on his riding lawn mower, caring for his six-acre lawn. A lover of all sports, he attended most of his grandchildren’s sporting events and activities. He was a dedicated fan of Skowhegan High School Softball and University of Maine Men and Women’s Basketball.

Norman was predeceased by his parents and also his grandfathers, Harold Chase and Armand Spalding, and his aunt Mildred Chase and uncle Kenneth Chase. He is survived by his wife Bernice; his daughters Deborah Chase of San Francisco and Pamela (David) Turgeon of Chelsea; his beloved grandchildren, Kasidy Turgeon and Chase Turgeon of Chelsea; his sisters Katherine “Kay” (Donald) Terrell of Steuben and Elizabeth “Betty” (Jerry) Allen of Winslow; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

At his request, a graveside service will be held in the spring at Sunset View Cemetery in Norridgewock. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart and Edwards Funeral Home, http://www.SmartandEdwardsFH.com

In lieu of flowers,

donations can be made to:

The Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers

93 Silver St.

Waterville, ME 04901

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