Louise Lillian (Born) Chase

Louise Born Chase was born on January 28, 1932.  She was the oldest child of Fred and Sophia and was born on the family farm south and west of Follett, Texas.  She was joined 5 years later by her brother, Gene.  She attended and graduated with honors from Follett High School in 1949 being the Salutatorian of her graduating class.  Louise was a cheerleader and played basketball.  She also loved swimming. She loved it so much that her dad, Fred, built the town pool where her mother Sophia was the lifeguard.  Louise went on to attend and graduate from Texas Technological Institute (now known as Texas Tech University).  While at college she met her future husband, Bill Chase, in 1951.  She needed a ride home to Follett one weekend, and Bill, being from Perryton, was happy to help. They were married on July 27, 1952.  Louise went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude and received her Bachelor of Science degree in education.

After college, they returned to Follett to make their home where their marriage was blessed by 3 children, Pam, Steve and Kim. Louise began her teaching career in Darrouzett and then on to Follett where she taught mainly Home Economics for 27 years.  During her career, she was also a class sponsor to many classes, going on senior trips, she was also the Future Homemakers of America sponsor, and she was a recipient of the Future Farmer’s of America Award for all of her years of service helping their program.  During this time of being a full time teacher and a full time mom, Bill opened a Ford dealership and Louise became his secretary/bookkeeper. The  business grew and John Deere, Allis Chalmers and American parts were all added. In later years they added farming to their lives and Louise added parts runner and chief cook for the hired hands to her resume.  Through Bills Distinguished Service and Sales Awards, the couple was able to travel to Europe, including Rome, Italy, France, Sweden, Holland,   Germany, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Monaco, Acapulco, Bermuda, Mexico City and Hawaii.

Louise played the organ and the piano for St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Darrouzett where she was a faithful member.  She also helped with Bible School and served in various areas of the church where needed. In Follett, she was a Brownie leader, Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout leader throughout her children’s young lives. She and Bill loved to go dancing and spend time with friends.  Louise was a founding member of the Bid and Chatter Bridge Club.  Gardening and swimming were passions of hers as people who knew and loved her could tell by the indoor pool that they built for their family and friends.  She was an avid quilter and a member of the Perryton Quilt Guild. She continued her travels with family and friends going on cruises to Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, the Snake River and the Panama Canal.  Louise served on the American Cancer Society Board, The Child Welfare Board and the Family Services Center Board.  She was also the chairperson of the Perryton Family Services Board that worked with Lipscomb County residents.

Ten years after Bill lost his battle with cancer, Louise met and later married Arthur Bumgardner.  They made their home in many places including Follett, TX, Brownwood, TX, Pharr, TX and Hennessey, OK so Louise could spend time with her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren who she adored. Through all of her moves, she continued to serve and praise God by playing the organ and piano at Lake Brownwood United Methodist Church in Brownwood, Our Savior Lutheran Church in McAllen, and the Tip of Texas Resort church services in Pharr. Louise and Arthur loved to dance and could be found on many different dance floors around the Pharr area.  They shared some of their dancing talents by entertaining nursing home residents in the area with square dance and clogging demonstrations. Louise continued her love of swimming, gardening, playing cards, playing dominoes and sewing. She spent many hours in the ‘Sewing Room’ at the resort park where she headed the program to make quilts for soldiers. She was also instrumental in organizing the drive to make quilts for the children at the Ronald McDonald House.  Louise not only continued to make award winning quilts for her family, she also shared her talent of teaching and could be found teaching quilt classes from time to time. She spent her life teaching and enriching the lives of others.  

Louise suffered two cerebral strokes in June of 2021 and passed peacefully, surrounded by family, on July 24, 2022.

Survivors include daughter Pamela McGhee and John Waldon of Canyon Lake, TX, son Steve Chase and wife Mauri of Aubrey, TX and daughter Kim Curran and her husband Jim of Edmond, OK, 4 grandsons, Ryan Hughes of Flushing, OH, Kyle Morris of Midland, TX, Nicholas Hughes and wife Ashley of Oklahoma City, OK, Jared Morris and wife Mary of Spring Branch, TX and 2 granddaughters, Andrea Choate and husband Judson of Scottsdale, AZ and Meagan Cruson and husband Chance of Ardmore, OK, 11 great grandchildren, Kylie and Smith Morris, Rhett, Bree and Chase Hughes, Mackenzie and Emery Choate, Jaxson, Kennedy and Carter Morris and Ford, Cash, Arly and Wells Cruson, a brother Gene Born and wife Meshel of Follett, TX, 4 step grandchildren, Joshua Curran and family, Jaycee Stokes and family, Callie Compton and family and Kelsey Branham and family, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Sophia Born, her husband Bill Chase and her husband Arthur Bumgardner.