Tallahassee – Margaret Anne Chase was born September 15, 1925 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the second child of Bess Thomas and Paul Weaver Chase, both educators. After nine and a half decades grounded in Christian faith and love of life and of others, Margaret died peacefully on December 7, 2020.
At the age of two, little Mugsy moved with the young family to the small town of Warroad in northern Minnesota, where she spent her formative years through the Great Depression. In the family home with “two rooms and a path,” baby sister Harriet arrived in 1931. Later the two sisters shared a bedroom and Harriet’s warm circulation - “stove-pipe legs” - proved useful in keeping Margaret’s cold feet warm during the long, frigid winters. Margaret excelled in school and played violin, snare drum, and sang in the chorus until her graduation in 1943 as class salutatorian. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in social work from Duluth State Teachers College, and in 1966 received a Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin.
Soon Margaret found her calling in service to the Lord and as a Presbyterian missionary in equatorial West Africa, where she served for 36 years. She attended seminary in New York City and was appointed to mission service in 1952. She learned French at Yale and in Paris, and in 1954 flew to her new home in the Republic of Cameroon. In early years, she directed village primary schools in the tropical rain forest, traveling by two-speed motorbike.
Later she served in the capital city of Yaoundé from 1963 to 1990, as teacher and chaplain to high school students in the city schools. She shared her gifts of Christian education and music with her students. Margaret also joined with colleagues and friends to form an orchestra that played classical music. The joys of being part of Cameroon family and church life were at times interrupted by civil unrest and tropical diseases. Urban dangers were present in this large city, and she hired a guard to be at her home each night. The man slept on a mat just outside the front door armed with poison darts in case of intruders.
On retirement, Margaret moved to Madison, Wisconsin to live and care for her mother for the next ten years. In 1992, when her mother turned 100, both enjoyed traveling to Elderhostel courses and Margaret’s speaking engagements in area churches. Margaret took adult education classes and participated in many church and community activities, helping for several years with “Triangle Community Ministry” for persons of low income. Mother and daughter were a regular duo at their church “60 plus” weekly program and meal.
In 2005, Margaret moved to Tallahassee to be close to her brother and extended family. She stayed active in church life at First Presbyterian Church and in her 80s traveled to Alaska and attended Elderhostel courses. Sister Harriet became her housemate at Westminster Oaks in 2011.
Margaret was pre-deceased by her parents; elder brother, Thomas Weaver Chase and his wife, Norene Olson Chase; nephew, David Thomas Chase; and grand-nephew, Thomas Colby Hollister and his father, David Tod Hollister. She is survived by her sister, Harriet Ruth Chase; niece, Kathy and her husband, Rip Caleen; nephew, Paul Chase (II); and niece Beth Hollister, and their children, Chris and Katie Caleen, Andrew Chase, and Sam Hollister; and great-grand-nephew, Caleb Chase Lyons.
Margaret was guided by the belief that education is the basis to help others. She would be delighted to know that the fruits of her labor and examples of giving and serving continue to resonate around the globe. The family will celebrate her life at a later date.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Westminster Retirement Communities Foundation, Benevolent Assistance Endowment Fund or the First Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee.
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