Billy Newton Chase

1929 - 2018

Billy Newton Chase

Stuart, FL

Billy Newton Chase, 89, lover of pecan pie, scratch-offs, and Jai-Alai, passed away at his home on June 10, 2018. He was born in Stuart on January 23, 1929 in a small house on Snake (Salerno) Road to Newt & Rena Chase where he lived with his three sisters, Margie, Leona, and Shirley. Billy grew up with chickens, pigs, cows, assorted varmints, and, at one time, a rattlesnake he thought was a baby alligator.

He went to elementary school in Port Salerno where, in his infinite wisdom, he always thought it best to leave his shoes on the bus and go to school barefoot. He attended Stuart High School and graduated in the Band Shell at Memorial Park in 1949. After graduation he was sent to Camp Pickett in Virginia and was eventually stationed in Germany where he proudly served his country as a Corporal in the U.S. Army.

Billy held many jobs throughout his life. After school, he worked at Kindred's Grocery and Rowell Furniture. He raced cars, taught math, ran a local hotel, sold real estate, and built houses from bottom to top. Building and woodworking were two of his passions. In the early 50's, Billy drove a semi and hauled the first load of fresh flowers out of Stuart with his lifelong friend, Paul Donaldson. From 1970 until 1980, Billy "a/k/a Chili Dog" (his CB handle) owned and operated the Snack Basket, a popular local hangout where everyone came to eat the VERY BEST food in town. Closest to his heart was his career in law enforcement. He was a City of Stuart Police Officer in the 50's, patrolled the City with pride, and personally knew most everyone in town. In 1980, he was the Desk Sergeant of the Martin County Sheriff's Office where he was the first person people would see as they walked in the door. Whether it was the public or the press, he would handle every situation that came across his desk, including once advising a resident to put tin foil on her TV antennae to keep the aliens away. He was the Master, the Proprietor, the Gatekeeper. He had an answer for every question and a solution for every problem. He retired from the Sheriff's Office in 2001 and returned to his love of furniture and cabinet making in his woodworking shop. He fixed ANYTHING that needed to be fixed and built ANYTHING that needed to be built, with very little bloodshed. If there was an old piece of furniture or vacuum cleaner on the side of the road, he would find it, fix it, and give it new life.

Billy never met a pocket knife he didn't like. He loved sunrises at the beach, breakfast with friends, biscuits and gravy, elephants, fried shrimp, meatloaf, orange marmalade, sports, rice pudding, pancakes, lemon curd, westerns, and Louis L'Amour books. He loved his random road trips. He'd go around the corner for coffee and then call home from Okeechobee! He was not one to complain much...but he hated broccoli and gout. He drove us nuts with the clicking sounds he'd make while eating his favorite honey lemon cough drops, and he knew it. He thought people should mind their own damn business and believed cars should never be purchased new. He was a great storyteller and loved to make people laugh by just being Billy. Above all, he was a man of his word and loved spending time with his family and many, many special friends.

Billy was THE VERY BEST and fiercely devoted husband, father and family man. He is survived by his wife, Wanda, and his loyal cat and best buddy, Yoshi; his children, Steven Chase (Patsy) of Colorado and grandson, Christopher Chase of Tennessee; Tracy Chase Barnes (Doug) and Jennifer Chase (Dwayne), both of Stuart; his sister, Shirley Hubbard (Jerry) of Melbourne; stepson, Doug Coleman (Corena) and grandchildren, Nikki Coleman and Kyle Coleman of Tennessee; stepdaughter, Michelle Diefendorf (Jeff) and granddaughter, Kayla Diefendorf of Ft. Pierce; great-granddaughter, Simina Ervin of Tennessee; and his eight nieces and nephews, three of which, Randall, Charlene, and Dwight, showed special love and care for Billy. He is predeceased by his parents Newt and Rena Chase and his sisters, Marjorie Hart and Leona Harrison.

It was always Billy's specific wish to not have a service in his honor. He wanted us to say that "He went to the big Jai-Alai in the sky". Therefore, we encourage you to please sign the online Guestbook and feel free to share any special memories you may have.

Memorial donations in memory of Billy may be made to Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation, 1201 S.E. Indian Street, Stuart, Florida 34997.