LEONARD M. CHASE JR.

LEONARD M. CHASE, JR. -- WILLISTON - Leonard M. Chase, Jr., 60, of Williston, passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in the UVM Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Burlington on March 8, 1955, the son of the late Leonard M. Chase, Sr., and Alice M. Shortsleeve. He was married to Deborah Carr on Sept. 15, 1979, at the Federated Church in Williston. Leonard worked for the State of Vermont Corrections Department for over 28 years doing a variety projects from running a furniture shop to taking over the print shop when it was asked of him; he also ran York Capacitor, and for a while he was a Furniture Sales Assistant. He was going to be moving into small engines when his illness struck. He was a jack-of-all-trades for VCI. Leonard never turned down a challenge to learn something new, he always took it head on; like when he had learn to sew so that he could open up a Garment Shop at the women's prison in South Burlington. Leonard always hoped that with all the industries he ran that he helped even just a few to go on to have productive and successful lives outside of the prison system, that was always his goal. Leonard loved the outdoors and would spend many a day after work and weekends weeding his vegetable gardens, hot peppers and green tail onions were his favorite to grow. He would love taking walks around the woods and his property and just look at things. He truly did love nature. He would love to look out and see all the deer that used to frequent our backyard, he loved living in the woods and seeing all the wildlife, he would plant extra vegetables in his gardens because as he said, we moved into their home and the animals need to eat too. Leonard was such a kind and caring man and would do anything to help, he was also very supportive of anything his wife wanted to do, which is something she will be eternally grateful for, no one could have asked for a better man or husband. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Chase of Williston; daughter, Star Chase and husband, Shawn Gay, of Pueblo, Colo.; grandson, Darby Palmer; two sisters, Genevieve Boyer and husband, David, of Monkton, and Alice Boyer of Lake Elmore; nieces, Jennifer Taylor and husband, Chris, of Milton, and Annie Lunn and husband, Odysseus Manzi, of Colchester; and numerous other nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Nancy Chase and Bonnie Chase. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ready Funeral & Cremation Service Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Dr., Essex Junction. There will be no funeral service. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in East Cemetery, Williston. To send online condolences to the family please visit www.readyfuneral.com.