Joan Stevens Chase

COLEBROOK, NH – Joan Stevens Chase, 77, of Colebrook, NH, passed away at her home on Monday, September 20, 2010. She was born in Peterborough, NH, the daughter of the late Richard and Mae (Watts) Stevens on March 9, 1933. She had resided in Colebrook for the past 26 years. Because her father was an Army officer, she attended various schools, traveled extensively and was one of the first dependents to live in Germany following World War II. She graduated from Colebrook Academy in 1951 and returned to Germany with her family until 1953. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1956. She was married to Robert S. Chase, of Derry, in 1955 during her senior year at UNH, and at that time she became an Air Force officer’s wife. Again, travel was imminent, spending assignments in California, at Pease AFB in NH, Shreveport, LA, Loring AFB in Maine, Warner Robins ABF in Georgia, and many summers with her family at Diamond Pond. She and her husband owned and operated the Perry Bookstore in Perry, Georgia for 3 years. Joan returned to UNH to obtain her teaching certification and in 1984, moved to Colebrook to care for her invalid mother. She taught middle school in North Stratford for 3 years and in 1988, took the job as the special educator in Colebrook for grades K-5, and she remained there for 10 years. Upon her retirement in 1998, she moved to Las Vegas for the next two winters, then lived in both North Dakota and Alabama as caregiver to one of her grandchildren. The following winter, she returned to Colebrook, as a long-term substitute for the same special education position she had previously held. The following three winters were spent back in Las Vegas and her summers spent in Colebrook. In 2006, she moved permanently back to Colebrook which she always considered her “roots,” and she maintained an apartment in the home of her brother, Bud Hulse. Her final years were spent as an office worker at the North Country Chamber of Commerce. Joan loved to travel and once said, “I know the grass isn’t any greener over that mountain, but I just want to see what is there!” She enjoyed reading, movies, dabbling in some writing and her solitude. Joan was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Retired Teachers Association, both local and national, and Phi Mu Sorority. Joan is survived by two sons, Mark Chase and wife Donna of Rochester, NH, and Matthew Chase and wife Freda of Huber Heights, OH; a daughter, Anne Sproul and husband, Jack, of Colorado Spring, Colo. ; three brothers, Granvyl “Bud” Hulse, Jr. of Colebrook, NH, Charles O. Stevens of Stewartstown, NH, and Sandy Stevens of Monroeville, Penn.; seven grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2010, from 3 – 6 p.m., with an Order of the Eastern Star service at 5:30 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A committal service will take place on Friday, September 24, at 10:00 a.m. at the Colebrook Village Cemetery with The Rev. Rebecca Larson officiating. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Joan may be made to the Colebrook Public Library, c/o Julie Colby, P.O. Box 58, Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.

Joan Stevens Chase

March 9, 1933 - September 20, 2010