Donald Chase

Donald Chase of Tyler passed away peacefully at his home in the Meadow Lake Senior Community Oct. 12, 2016.

Donald was born in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 9, 1926. Donald served in the Navy and attended Southwestern University in the Navy V-5 Program. He received his Petroleum Engineering Degree from The University of Texas at Austin. In 1948, he was employed by MeneGrande Oil Co. (a subsidiary of Gulf Oil) in Venezuela. There he met the love of his life, Shirley Allred. They were married Oct. 4, 1949, and just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. They left Venezuela in 1956 for Corpus Christi, Texas, to manage production and drilling operations for Tex Star Oil & Gas (later to become Texas Oil & Gas). In 1964, Don was transferred to corporate offices in Dallas. He retired from Texas Oil & Gas as Senior Vice President in 1986.

Don, Shirley and family moved to their ranch in Van, Texas, in 1972, and then to Tyler in 2003. Don loved playing softball as a young man and golf as he grew older, and made many, many friends doing both. Don served on the Chancellor's Council and the Executive Committee of the Chancellor's Council for The University of Texas at Austin. He also served The University of Texas at Tyler Development Board and The University of Texas Health Science Center in Tyler. Don was a devout and active member of Christ Church, Episcopal. He attended and helped lead two Bible study groups and was eagerly awaiting the opening of Christ Church South Campus.

He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley; his sons, Michael and Kathy, of Houston, Darrell and Lori, of Tyler, Robert and Rose, of San Antonio; grandchildren, Mercedes and Danny Noteware, of Tyler, Matthew, of Tyler, Michael Josiah, of Tokyo, Japan, Meagan and Matt Davis, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Victoria, Samantha and Alex of San Antonio; four great-grandchildren; and his brother, Richard, of McQueeney, Texas.

A Celebration Service of Don's life will be held Monday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. at Christ Church, Episcopal. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Church, Episcopal.