Lee Ann Chase

LeeAnn (Annie) Chase was a poet and storyteller, so instead of the traditional obituary, let us tell you the short version of her well lived life.

With beautiful golden hair and green eyes, LeeAnn was born to her adoring parents, Barbra (Sis), and Vincil (V.L), their little angel. Her photo won a beauty contest so perfectly posed. Her daddy lovingly nicknamed her “Already ready Rentle” with a trait that followed her through life, if she wasn’t early, she was “late.” Annie loved growing up on the family ranch with her sisters, Sherrie, Lorna, and Bonnie. They would attend all the local rodeos and compete in 4H with their steers. LeeAnn enjoyed sewing many of her own clothes, including beautiful dresses for the many dances she attended, always keeping up with the latest fashions.

Annie attended High School in Bly and was one of the last classes that graduated before it was closed. LeeAnn was an amazing cheerleader, and like so many romance novels, she fell in love with a dark and handsome basketball player. They married and had a son Tyler Glenn Townsend. After graduation, the couple moved to San Francisco where they had their second bouncing baby boy Leonard (Lenny) Wayne Townsend. Annie worked as a telephone operator, enjoying many calls from lonely elders asking for “the time,” but really, they just wanted someone to visit with. Being young and so far from home put a strain on the couple and they divorced. Annie and the boys moved back home to Bly.

A few years later LeeAnn met a handsome blue eyed Weyerhaeuser man, Larry Murphy. The couple soon married and had an adorable daughter Tessa Colleen Murphy.  Larry and Annie bought a trailer in Bly and began their life together. While at church one cold winter night, their trailer caught fire. The whole congregation came to help battle the blaze, trying to save as much as they could, sadly, most everything was lost. They moved their family into a rental home to try to begin again. One night the family were all tucked in and sleeping peacefully, Larry and LeeAnn on a hide a bed in the living room. Annie was visited by an angel who told her to “WAKE UP!” She opened her eyes to see the Chimney flue on fire. She rushed to wake her children and get everyone out of the house safely. The house was completely destroyed. With another devastating loss, they moved to a ranch in Beatty where LeeAnn’s love of ranching was renewed. They ran cattle and grew rye in the fields. There were three things LeeAnn was passionate about at this time, her family, her ranch, and her church. Every moment was full. She taught Sunday School, made clothes for the missionettes, helped run a Summer Bible camp at Lake of the woods, serving as a camp counselor, and teaching at a church school in Bly, all while working the ranch and caring for her family. Her three children were getting older and going to school. Annie missed her babies and decided to add to their family.

Larry and LeeAnn had their second daughter Tammy Irene Murphy.  Annie continued pouring out her love for her family and her God. Annie was always a safe harbor in a storm. She loved her nieces and nephews, and they often spent time at her home. Under bad circumstances, at the age of 32, LeeAnn had a massive stroke which left her completely paralyzed on her right side, unable to walk, talk, or even write. She slowly began her recovery, practicing writing her ABC’s and 123’s with her 3yr old daughter Tammy. She walked, dragging her “dead” leg at first, until she could walk 2 miles every day. Her marriage began to crumble under the strain and LeeAnn divorced Larry and moved her four children back to Bly. Her family took her in with open arms, first staying with Sis and V.L. and later in a home provided by Grandma and Grandpa (Bertha and Herman) Townsend where she settled in to raise her family.

LeeAnn began dating her lifelong friend Carson Chase, who was an EMT on the ambulance when she had her stroke a few years earlier. LeeAnn slowly began to rebuild her life, fighting to get off of disability and to support her family. She began working part time at a local restaurant, getting paid with meals and tips while also working in the office at the Forest Service. She soon began working as a wildland Firefighter, going from paralyzed to fighting fire, she was a fighter. Leeann and Carson’s love grew stronger, but LeeAnn’s children came first. She and Carson decided not to marry until her children were grown. When Annies youngest moved to Ashland, Carson and
LeeAnn finally married. They enjoyed spending time together, just the two of them. They loved riding motorcycles, enjoying the freedom of the wind. LeeAnn’s calling to help others never faded, though how she did it changed. She and Carson participated in “Toys for Tots” rides and charity Poker runs. As life moved on, LeeAnn retired from firefighting and Carson laid down his chainsaw. They would hop in their Jeep and cruise the forest, hunting for Mountain Lillies and mushrooms. Annie enjoyed finding native plants, both medicinal and beautiful, to add to her flower bed.

LeeAnn’s son Tyler became critically ill with liver disease and passed away, within a month her mother, Sis, passed away after years of battling cancer. As the pain and sadness swept over her, she picked up her Bible and her pen. She cried out to her savior Jesus to comfort her and found him waiting with open arms, to wipe away her tears and hold her close. LeeAnn wrote poem after poem, story after story, pouring her grief and her love onto paper. Annie continued moving forward, helping her sister Bonnie care for their father V.L. until he joined his bride in Heaven. Carson’s health began to decline. LeeAnn slowly took over caring for the home and chores and lovingly cared for him until his passing in 2015. Annie began another new chapter in her amazing, well lived life. She became very active in her church, joined clubs, like the Red Hat Society, and opened her home for meetings. As her agility began to fail, she took one too many falls and proceeded to pinch her spinal cord which left her with limited mobility. Though it slowed her physically it did not slow her love for Jesus or people. When her church was taken, she opened her heart and her home. She hosted special events and weekly bible studies, even stepped up to teach her church family when others could not.

LeeAnn’s sister Sherrie passed away and sadly her son Lenny suddenly passed away in 2024. She took solace in her Lord, knowing He never makes mistakes. Her heart was heavy with her losses, and her body was getting weaker every day. Her soul was ready to meet her savior Jesus. Her spirit left this world on February 13th, 2026. She passed painlessly and peacefully with a smile on her face. LeeAnn’s love and kindness for everyone she met and her optimism in the face of trials will forever be missed.  

LeeAnn was proceeded in death by her parents, Barbra Ann Rentle and Vincil Lee Rentle, her sister Sheri Dement, sons Tyler Glenn Townsend and Leonard Wayne Townsend and her husband Carson Charles Chase. She is survived by sisters Lorna Harris and Bonnie Lee, daughters Tessa Colleen Coolidge (Murphy) and Tammy Irene Dewey (Murphy), grandchildren Justin Lien, Cheynowa Townsend, Justin Townsend, Titus Townsend, Isaac Beke, Jacob Beke, Tyler Dewey, Zoey Dewey and great grandchildren Quinn Lien, Cooper Lien, Heston Townsend, and Kiwaku Townsend.

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