Hillis L. "Mike" Chase

1923 - 2010

Hillis L. (Mike) Chase passed away November 9, 2010 at the age of 87 years. Hillis was born March 10, 1923 to Florence Strickland and Walter S. Chase in Laurens, Iowa. He grew up there during the Great Depression, graduating from Laurens High School. Hillis served in the United States Marine Corps from Jan. 1942 to Dec. 1945 and fought in many battles in the South Pacific, including, Eniwetok, Saipan, Western Pacific Campaign, Guam, Tinian, Tarawa, Peleliu, Babelthop, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal. He was very proud to be a marine and to serve his country but never talked about it until about 1990 and then not very often. He was a mason and a lifetime member of the VFW.

In 1947 he met Mary Louise Chesbro, the love of his life, in Carmel Valley and they were married July 1, 1948. Over a span of time they have five wonderful children, Kathryn, Dan, Margaret, Christine and Jeff.

Hillis was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Darwin, Jerry and sister Jolene.

Most of his working life was in Avenal for Coast Counties Water and then Avenal Water Company. All the children were born while living there, the three oldest graduating from Avenal High. Later the family moved to Hanford where he worked for Acme Paving on heavy equipment and Christine and Jeff graduated from Hanford High.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lou; his children, Kathryn (Abel) Camarena, Dan (Joyce) Chase, Margaret (Clint) Houge, Christine Adams and Jeff Chase, nine grandchildren and 13 (soon to be 14) great grands. We all loved him and miss him very much.

Hillis loved his children, took them out in the country to heart the coyotes (woke the neighbors when they spilled out of the car at 6 a.m., howling like the coyotes), taught them to ride horses, camped in the mountains, traveled to fun places and, most of all, enjoyed the raucous Pedro games with family. He often outbid us all on almost nothing in his hand and made it.

"As one life ends, another begins…three days before I give birth to our third child, my Grandpa Chase passed away. I didn't get to see him as often as I would have liked, but will hold in my heart the times I had with him. I was blessed to have him as a grandpa and was so glad he got to meet my son and my husband before he passed away…." Elaan (Mrs. Caleb) Sunderland, granddaughter, Paradise Valley, AB Canada.

A military service will be held at the San Joaquin National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California, November 29, 2010 at 12:30 p.m.

Memorial may be sent to the Hanford Library, First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, or the charity of your choice.

Condolences may be made at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of People's Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, Ca 93230 (559) 584-5591.