Earl Terrance "Terry" Chase

January 11, 1949 – February 8, 2024

Having fought the good fight with grace and courage, Terry Chase, 75, died peacefully at home after a lengthy illness. Terry was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was the son of Earl Thornton Chase and Jeanne Begbie Chase of Ontario, Canada. After moving with his family to New Orleans and Houston they finally settled in Birmingham, AL where he graduated from Berry High School in 1968. He attended Jacksonville State University where he met the love of his life and his best friend Jean Vick on a blind date on Halloween night. They were married in June,1971 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and have been married over 52 years.

Terry’s first job as a kid was being a “seat flipper” on the St. Charles Streetcar line in New Orleans. It’s still the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world. Terry enjoyed playing sports. At Berry High School, he played Varsity football and basketball. At Jacksonville, he played intramural basketball and intercollegiate track and field taking First in State for the Shotput event.

Terry was active in motorcycle enduro racing for many years. With the love for their 3 horses, he and Jean helped manage Flying High Stables for several years. Having no children of their own, the rest of their menagerie included 3 poodles, adopted dogs and cats, and the most amazing, smart and loving Rottweiler and Doberman you could ever ask for. Terry spent years as a HAM Radio Operator and would stay up all night on occasion. He and Jean enjoyed socializing and ballroom dancing with many of their friends as members of The Club, the Concordia Beneficial Society, the Vikings and Cheramis Dance clubs, the Metropolitan Dinner Club of Greater Birmingham and Riverchase Country Club. They spent a lot of time at their lake home on Mitchell Lake. Fishing and boating in the quiet early mornings and early evenings and then relaxing on the deck in the stillness of the day was so peaceful. He and Jean loved to travel. Terry especially enjoyed taking cruises.

Terry worked for Sears, Roebuck and Company for 10 years before joining Andress Engineering

where he worked for 35 years. At Andress, he served as the Service Manager and salesman for used Trackmobiles (railcar movers). In 2005, to fulfill the wishes of Terry’s aunt and uncle, Terry, Jean, his dad and sister founded The Carl H. and Laura Estella Grisham Scholarship Foundation for graduating high school seniors in Broward County, Florida. This was probably the most satisfying and rewarding project Terry ever attempted. To date, the Foundation has awarded almost $2,000,000 in scholarships.

Terry and Jean have been members at Briarwood for over 50 years and were Sunday greeters for several years. They’ve been so blessed as members of the Discovery Sunday school class. So many precious thanks to all of you who loved Terry and shared of yourselves, your prayers and your time to help both of us over these past few years. A special loving thanks to Terry’s caregiver, Daniel Waseka and his nurse, Scott McCary, who gave the whole of themselves not only professionally but as good friends.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Jeanne Chase, his sister Judy Chase and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his wife, Jean (Vick) Chase, brother-in-law Robert Vick (Lynn), niece and nephew Lindsay Vick Bru (Baker), Gardner Vick and the sweetest great nephew, Carson Bru.

In lieu of flowers, please share a donation with the Jefferson or Shelby County Humane Society or to your favorite charity.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 1:00 PM and a celebration of Terry’s life will follow at 2:00PM in the chapel of Briarwood Presbyterian Church .