Louise B Chase

of Asheville, beloved servant of God, passed away on Jan. 15 surrounded by her family. She was 94. Louise was born in St. George, Kansas, on July 29, 1931, the fifth of seven children of George T. and Elvira Holuba Barnett. Having spent her early years in a house with no running water, Louise understood the value of family, self-discipline and hard work. She "fibbed" about her age in order to land her first job, at age 14, as a clerk in a general store. Her teenage work experience also included measuring and fitting women for corsets at Salina Mercantile Exchange for 45 cents an hour. At age 15, she served as president of the Junior Group in the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 62. In 1949, Louise graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Salina, Kansas, where she fell in love with the senior class president, Kenneth Chase. Their first date, the high school prom, led to an enduring love affair that culminated in a marriage lasting 64 years and the nurturing of six children. Louise was a graduate of Marymount College in Salina, where she majored in Latin and English. She served as president of the Latin Club and president of the local chapter of Eta Sigma Phi, a national honorary classical fraternity recognizing superior achievement by students of Latin and Greek. She was also recipient of the Sisters of St. Joseph Scholarship and the Kyne Latin Scholarship, and served as a secondary school student teacher of English. Following graduation and marriage, Louise embarked on a lifetime journey of service as a devoted wife and partner to Kenneth during his military service and his long career as an insurance executive. Above all, Louise was a loving and supporting mother to their children, often tending to them herself during Kenneth's frequent travels. Her generosity and patience with her children were beyond measure, and she governed them with a firm but loving hand. Louise and Ken relocated their family from the Midwest to Asheville in 1968, after Mutual of Omaha promoted him to regional executive for western North Carolina. She continued to pursue her love of teaching, serving at St. Eugene and St. Joan of Arc Catholic schools. She also worked briefly as a real estate agent, and later as owner and operator of Kiddies Band Box, a landmark children's clothing store in downtown Asheville. While working outside the home, her true passion was serving as wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to her ever-expanding family. Words cannot express our gratitude and love for her. We mourn her passing but are comforted in knowing that she is finally reunited with Ken in Heaven. Louise was predeceased by her husband Kenneth, all of her siblings, and a grandson, John. Survivors include her six children, Edwin (Patty) of Gastonia; Dianne of Charlotte, Barry (Christine) of Overland Park, Kansas; Randall (Lisa) of Dover, Delaware; Lisa (Greg) Merrill of Asheville, and Holly of Asheville. She is also survived by15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at St. Eugene Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Louise be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or National Right to Life.

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Louise B Chase

July 29, 1931 - January 15, 2026