"After your season of suffering, God in all his grace will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you." 1 Peter 5:10.
Clifford Chase passed on Saturday, May 30, 2015. He was 75 years old. He was born Dec. 10, 1939, in Lewiston, and Cliff attended Lewiston High School and graduated in 1958. After high school, Cliff joined the U.S. Navy and served until 1964, when he was honorably discharged.
Cliff met and married Darlene Long on Jan. 31, 1963, in Santa Cruz, Calif. They recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. Together they had two beautiful children, Christopher P. Chase and Charla (Sissy) Bickford.
Cliff was an entrepreneur, having started and sold many successful businesses, from construction to steel fabrication, retail sod to pesticides. Cliff was also a celebrated artist and sculptor. With Darlene's encouragement, Cliff began to create bronze sculptures. One special sculpture, "Desire," was made especially for the 1990 American Quarter Horse Association World Championship show. Cliff was quoted, "I don't claim to be the biggest or the best artist in history. What I would like to believe is that there is still a demand out there for good art and for touching hearts. At the same time, I am doing exactly what I love the most. It just doesn't get better than that." A little bit of Cliff lives on in each design and sculpture he created.
Cliff was a proud father, supporting both Chris and Sissy in sporting events, Future Farmers of America and other extracurricular activities. That love and support continued to his grandchildren, Paden and Sarah; and great-granddaughter Hadlee Jo.
Cliff is preceded in death by his parents, Paris Brooklyn Chase and Esther Schoening Chase; his stepfather, George Crane; stepmother Katy Chase; mother- and father-in-law Helen and Lloyd Long; stepsister Jean Truesdale; sister-in-law Penny Hines; and brother-in-law Don Olson.
He is survived by wife Darlene; son Christopher (Rebecca) Chase of Bend, Ore.; daughter Charla (Clay) Bickford of Lewiston; grandson Paden Chase; granddaughter Sarah Hart; great-granddaughter Hadlee Jo; sisters Dianna Olson and Janell Benjamin; stepbrothers Dale Crane and Lee Crane; and stepgrandson Jake Foster.
At the end of one's days, you hope you can turn and look back at the amazing family you helped to create. "Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life." 1 Corinthians 15:22.
A celebration of life will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Ketch Pen at the Roundup grounds in Lewiston.
