Palmer Standford Chase, 91, retired educator and school administrator in Orofino, passed away at Life Care Center in Lewiston on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, with loving family at his side. He was born on April 5, 1925, at the family home on their farm in Reubens, to Charles Irvin and Agnes Joanne (Eikum) Chase. It was Palm Sunday. So, with the encouragement of his paternal great-grandmother Culdice, he was named "Palmer."
His early years were on the farm with two older brothers, Wayne and Levon, and then younger brother Clinton. Farm life and his first horse named "Pet" sparked a lifelong love of horses, gardening and canning fruits and vegetables.
When he was 4 years old, his father, Charles, became sick with Bright's (kidney) disease and passed away within a year. The family then moved to the Lewiston Orchards, where Palmer attended the Orchards Elementary School from the first through eighth grade, attended ninth grade at the old Lewiston Junior High and then at Lewiston High School, graduating in 1943.
His mother, Agnes, raised four strapping boys on her own with Norwegian determination, hard work and an emphasis on a good education. To support the family, she received a $25 per month U.S. Army pension and worked in the fruit farms to make enough money to get by. The boys were fearless, and when he was 10, Palmer and brothers would make extra money by topping the trees of fruit - other people wouldn't want to climb that high.
Palmer was a good athlete from the beginning. He played baseball, basketball and marbles. He remembered getting in trouble for playing marbles for "keeps." His principal was Lillian McSorley, who later had the new elementary school dedicated in her name.
Palmer excelled at Lewiston High School as a leader in sports, academics and student activities. He was on the honor roll, lettered in baseball, basketball and football all three years, and was elected student body president his senior year. He graduated from LHS in 1943.
World War II was underway, so Palmer enlisted in the U.S. Navy V-12 program but was cut six weeks later because of less-than-perfect vision in his left eye. He was then drafted by the U.S. Army, took basic at Camp Roberts, Calif., and was quickly promoted to staff sergeant while stationed at Fort Sill, Okla. Later, he was transferred to Fort Knox, Ky., as a trainer in field artillery and tanks. He rose to the rank of master sergeant and was honorably discharged on Oct. 27, 1946.
Palmer married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Bernice Morgan, on Jan. 1, 1944, in Lewiston. They had two daughters, Charlotte and Cynthia, whom he adored. They made their first homes in Lewiston and then in Clarkston, where they enjoyed riding and raising horses and gardening. He worked for Morgan Bros., Inc. (wholesale supply), for 17 years. The marriage ended in divorce after 19 years.
During this time, he was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce serving as secretary, then as president of the local chapter in 1954 and later as Idaho state Jaycees secretary. Palmer was an official for high school and college sports as a referee in football and basketball and an umpire in baseball. He served as the commissioner of officials and did the scheduling for high schools and Lewis-Clark State College for 30 years, from 1947 to 1976. Palmer was a member of the Nez Perce County Mounted Sheriff's Posse. They were called out for mounted search and rescues and jailbreak manhunts. The posse also rode in parades and performed figure eight in-and-out precision drill team riding at the Lewiston Roundup with colors.
Palmer made a career change and went to University of Idaho in September of 1963 to finish his college education. He graduated from UI with a bachelor of arts in education in 1964. He then went to graduate school and earned a master of arts degree in history in 1966.
While living in Moscow and attending the UI, Palmer married Betty C. Sullivan in June 1965. She was finishing her degree in primary education. Thus began both their careers in education and 50 years of love and devotion. Palmer was hired as a high school teacher in Orofino, where they moved in 1968. Betty was hired as an elementary school teacher there. Palmer taught high school math, science, history and English for three years and then was hired as the junior high principal for nine years. He was then hired as district assistant superintendent for Orofino Joint School District 171 for 11 years, until retirement in 1988.
Palmer was an active member of the First Christian Church of Orofino. During retirement, he volunteered for AARP, the Orofino Senior Center and helped seniors with income tax filings. He enjoyed gardening and canning fruits and vegetables, bowling with the Senior Orofino Bowlers (the S.O.B.s) and traveling to England, Norway, Hawaii and Alaska. For the last 10 years, he was totally devoted to caring for Betty in their home as she suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
Palmer was preceded in death by his parents; his three brothers, Wayne, Levon and Clinton Chase; and his wife, Betty. He is survived by his daughters, Charlotte (Jay) Henry of Pomeroy and Cynthia M. Chase-Spilman of Richland; stepsons Harry C. Sullivan of Bellevue, Wash., and John (Pamela) Sullivan of Lewiston; sisters-in-law Nellie Chase of Orofino and Pat Chase of Bloomington, Ind.; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren too numerous to list.
The family is holding a public graveside service in remembrance of Palmer at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Normal Hill Cemetery, Division 3, Row 68, in Lewiston. A life celebration will follow at 11 a.m., with a light lunch, at the Quality Inn in Clarkston. Cards and letters may be mailed to the Chase Family, P.O. Box 559, Lewiston, ID 83501. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Saturday, August 27, 10:00 AM
- Location
-
Normal Hill Cemetery
1122 7th Street
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
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