Johnny Mac Chase October 17, 1936 ~ November 15, 2024 (age 88)

Funeral services for Johnny Chase, 88, of Clovis, will be held at 1:00 PM, Wed, Nov. 20, 2024 at Clovis New Life Assemblies of God Church, 517 West 21st St., Clovis, NM with Jeff Bilberry officiating, assisted by Duane Chase and Pastor Dean Williamson.  Burial will follow at the Kenna Cemetery, Kenna, NM with Trent Bilberry, Ryan Best, Richard Rodriguez, Jacob Rodriguez, Brian Jones and Bruce Lamb serving as pallbearers.  All his family members and friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Johnny Mack Chase was born Oct. 17, 1936 in Wayne County, NC to the home of Mary Angeline “Lina” (Taylor) and William Herman Chase, and passed from this life on Fri., Nov. 15, 2024 in Clovis.  Johnny joined the US Air Force in 1954 at the age of 18.  While stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, he met and married Ruth “Lavon” Tivis.  They were wed on June 28, 1958 in Portales.  Over the next 16 years, they served at several duty stations, including Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in NC, Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, NM and Patrick Air Force Base in Satellite Beach, FL.  Johnny served on remote tours to Turkey and Japan, leaving his family for a year at a time on tours to Vietnam and Thailand.  Upon his retirement from the Air Force in 1975, the family settled in Clovis where he remained the rest of his life.

Upon retirement, he attended college for a year and was a postman for a short period of time.  He also sold cars for Bender dealerships for about 7 years.  In 1985, he became an insurance agent for GEICO and was Clovis’ agent until 1998.  At that time, he started transporting and driving cars for the Bender dealerships.  He enjoyed that up until last year.

Johnny was a big part of helping build the Assembly of God Church in Portales when he was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base the first time.  When Johnny retired, he and his family became members of the Clovis New Life Assemblies of God Church where he attended for 49 years.  In his younger years, he taught the young married Sunday School class and served as a deacon for many years.  Johnny was a devout Christian and had a deep love for his Lord and Savior.

Johnny was known as “Pop” to Duane’s children, “Papa John” to Cheree’s children and Kenna/Elida communities and “Papo” to Jaiden, Mikah and Zion.  Johnny loved his family and would make frequent trips to North Carolina to spend time with his brothers.  He also loved NASCAR racing and cars in general.  He was a wood craftsman as well.  He built numerous things through the years.  In earlier years, he enjoyed playing golf.

He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Duane and Lisa Chase of Clovis; a daughter and son-in-law, Cheree and Jeff Bilberry of Kenna; five grandchildren, Jared and Lauri Chase of San Antonio, TX, Derek Chase and fiancé, Kendra Yapyappen of Las Cruces, NM, Lauren and Eric Wait of Corpus Christi, TX, Tori and Sterling Morris of Stephenville, TX and Trent and Bailey Bilberry of Kenna, NM; four great-grandchildren, Gemma and Isla Wait, Alice Bilberry and Victoria Chase; a brother and sister-in-law, Delton and Ruth Chase of Pikeville, NC; and three sisters, Eva Hehl of Goldsboro, NC, Barbara Forehand of Goldsboro, NC and Gaye Bryd of Freemont, NC; as well as many nephews and nieces.  He is also survived by a family very special to him, Richard and Aida Rodriguez, their children, Jacob and Denise and grandchildren, Jaiden, Mikah and Zion.

He was preceded in death by Ruth “Lavon” Chase, his wife of more than 66 years, who died Oct. 22, of this year; his parents; four brothers, Hugh, William, James and Keith; one sister, Mae Grimes; and by two grandchildren, Taylor Hope Bilberry and Trey Chase Bilberry.

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