Joshua Coffin Chase's Obituary
Josh Chase passed away unexpectedly in Gainesville, FL. He was born in Sanford, FL and grew up on a family orange grove. His family spent summers on Cape Cod where he became an expert and enthusiastic sailor.
Josh graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1966. He attended Cornell University, earning a BS degree in Agricultural Economics in 1970 and an MBA in 1971. While at Cornell he met Christine Chase, and they married in 1973. Josh graduated from the US Naval Officers Candidate School in Newport, RI and served as an officer on the USS Nespelen from 1971-1974. The Chases lived in Charlottesville, VA for seven years. There Josh earned his CPA credentials and worked in both corporate and CPA firms. They moved on to central Florida where Josh worked in the family citrus business, Chase Groves, until properties were sold, finally settling in Gainesville, FL. Josh worked for many years as a tax department manager at Purvis Gray and Company. At the age of 62, tired of suits and ties, Josh retired from Purvis Gray to manage a family timber property, Jumpie Run Plantation, in Monticello, FL. Josh was a long-term, active member of the Sunrise Rotary Club. He was a great friend to everyone he knew, always happy to help with a project, especially if it involved his truck and a chainsaw.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Christine Davis Chase, his brother Randall Chase, Jr., his nephews Peter and Andrew Chase, Andrew’s wife Kelly Ledford Chase, great nephew Ezra Chase, and many cousins. Josh is predeceased by his parents Randall Chase and Julia Gehan Chase and by his sister Laura Duval Chase.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Josh consider a memorial donation to the Tall Timbers Research Station (https://talltimbers.org/product/other-donations/), or a donation in Josh's memory to the Rotary Clubs of Gainesville Foundation. Please indicate Sunrise Rotary-Josh Chase in the memo line and mail checks to Rotary Club of Gainesville Sunrise, P.O. Box 140422, Gainesville, FL 32614.
A memorial celebration of Josh’s life will be held on Saturday October 12, 2024, at 11:30 AM in the Williams - Thomas Westarea Funeral Home, 823 N.W 143rd Street, Newberry, FL 32669. Please visit his memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com.
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