Claire Lee ("Butch") Chase, 81, died on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Lee was born on September 30, 1942, in Winnsboro, Louisiana to William Neil Chase and Jennie Kennerly Chase. He was raised in Springhill, Louisiana.

Lee earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Lee and his young family moved to Lenoir, North Carolina in 1973. Lee had an accomplished career as a Certified Public Accountant, working for J.A. Grisette & Co., Holly Farms, Pilgrim's Pride, and Blue Ridge Electric Corporation. Lee retired from his long-time employment with Blue Ridge in 2013. Lee was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Lenoir for 51 years. He was also a member of the Lenoir Rotary Club and served a term as its President. During his years in Lenoir, Lee made many friends on the racquetball court, in his church, work, and civic communities, and, later in life, in the pool at his water aerobics class.

Lee enjoyed the outdoors, hiking the Boone Fork Loop Trail and walking many thousands of miles over the years with his beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Zydeco. He cherished his Louisiana roots, cheering on the LSU Tigers, enjoying Cajun cooking, and introducing his granddaughters to Zydeco music. Lee loved nothing more than his family, who will remember him for his quirky sense of humor, commitment to family gatherings around the kitchen table, and practical wisdom brought to bear on life's big decisions.

Lee is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nora Travis Chase; his brothers Daniel Chase (Dottie) of Roseland, California and William Neil Chase, Jr. (Becky) of Pearland, Texas; his children LeNora Elizabeth Chase and Thomas Rahn Chase (Martha), both of Lenoir; his four granddaughters Travis Styres Hinman (Frazer) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mary Claire Chase Earnhardt (AJ) of Hickory, North Carolina, Sarah Elizabeth Chase-Jones (Will) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Jennie Sparrow Chase of Lenoir; and his three (soon-to-be four) great-grandsons Asher William Hinman, Sebastian Joseph Earnhardt, and Finnegan Reese Jones. Lee's parents preceded him in death.

Memorial service will be Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 4:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Lenoir with Rev. Josh Hughes officiating.  The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at the church prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made by mail to Lenoir Rotary Club c/o Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1834, Lenoir, NC 28645, or to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care d/b/a Amorem, 902 Kirkwood Avenue NW, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the Chase family.