Alma C. Chase

Alma “Boots” Chase Alma “Boots” Chastain Chase, 83, of Austin passed away peacefully Wednesday morning April 27, 2005. She was born to Alma Reed Chastain and Ralph DeVere Chastain December 31, 1921 in Beaumont, Texas. She was preceded in death by her sisters Gene Tucker and Martha Schmidt Orgain. Alma survived three husbands: William Lewis Hutchings, Harold Bell Renfro and Francis S. Chase. A beloved mother, she is survived by Trudy Hutchings, Sally Pendergras and husband Douglas, William Sealy Hutchings and wife Helen. She is also survived by her brother-in-law John Tucker of Beaumont, Texas. She is survived by six grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Allison and husband Ray Teheng and child Jack; Jennifer and husband Marc Tellepsen; Bill Feinberg; David and wife Anne Feinberg and child Morgan; Mary Hutchings and William Hutchings. She is survived by stepchildren: Bruce Renfro and wife Paula; Janet Renfro Elder and husband Jim; Jim Chase; Susie Chase Winters and husband Doug; Frank Chase, Jr. Nieces and nephews: Ann and husband Clint Isles; Nancy and husband Duke Kacvinski; Helen and husband Howard Bailes; Benno Schmidt and wife Annie McMillen; Ralph Schmidt and wife Susan Babcock; John Schmidt and wife Wendy; Bill Schmidt and wife Deborah. Boots graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The University of Texas at Austin and was a member of Pi Beta Phi. After marrying William Lewis “Bill” Hutchings in September 1941, she spent 20 years raising her family in Houston. There were frequent family trips with the Tuckers and the Schmidts to Rollover Yacht Basin at Boliver for crabbing and to Chautauqua Park at Boulder, Colorado for picnicking and mountain climbing. Boots volunteered at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston and earned Duplicate Bridge Master Points throughout those years. Boots and Bill Hutchings were founding members of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Houston, Texas. After marrying Harold Bell “Pete” Renfro in September, 1963, she moved to Dallas, Texas. They enjoyed traveling the world in the company of Dr. Edward Teller, Dr. J. R. Maxfield, and other physicists and geologists. She was a Realtor and a member of the Dallas Geological Wives Club. She was widowed in 1972. Boots married Francis S. “Frank” Chase in December 1978. They enjoyed Dallas theater, symphony and opera, travels and addressing urban education. Over her 40 year stay in Dallas, she served as a volunteer for La Femme du Monde. Boots also worked over 7, 500 hours as a volunteer at Baylor Irving Hospital, Dallas, Texas. Boots moved to The Summit at Westlake Hills in November 2003, where she shared good times and companionship. Boots was very outgoing and knew everyone in the entire facility within two months. Her charisma is everlasting. Boots survived three occurrences of breast cancer. The Cancer Survivor’s Group, of which she was a member and a leader, provided tremendous support and strength to her over these many years. In July 2004, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Hospice Austin staff, her companions and The Summit and its staff helped her through her last months and days. Her family is grateful for their care and loving attention. A memorial service will be held at The Summit at Westlake Hills, Saturday April 30, 2005 at 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Baylor Irving at Irving Health Care Foundation, 1901 N. McArthur Blvd., Irving, TX 75061 or Hospice of Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759 or The American Cancer Society, 2433 Ridgemont Dr., Austin, TX 78754 or charity of your choice. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com