Susanne Frances Chase

Susanne Frances Chase, 85, passed away on July 30th, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, August 4th at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 4000 W Loop 250 N, Midland, Texas 79707.

Susanne was born on June 5^th, 1938, in Los Angeles, California to F.A. and Vivian Manaugh. She grew up in the greater Los Angeles area, graduating from John Muir High School in Pasadena in 1952. She married and then moved to Socorro, New Mexico; Lubbock, Texas; and finally Midland, Texas in the spring of 1967. She vowed to get back to California as soon as possible! But she ultimately became a proud Midlander of almost 56 years.

In 1973, Susanne and Mike Chase were married—creating a new, blended family that included his three children and her two children. Susanne spent most of her career in the oil and gas industry, using her administrative and interpersonal skills to keep several bustling oil companies, most notably ARCO Oil and Gas, running smoothly.

Susanne was involved in many organizations, including the Desk and Derrick Club, the Midland Christian Women’s Club, the Midland Republican Women’s Club, and the Red Hat Society. In her free time, she enjoyed shopping for just the right picture or antique teacup set for her beautifully decorated home; hosting holiday events and meals; and finding the best red and purple accoutrements for her Red Hat events. She loved going out to lunch with her close friends. But her greatest joy was her granddaughters, and she was lucky enough to see all of them grow into amazing young women.

Along the way she beat cancer three times, and she outlived Tina Turner!

She is survived by her sister, Annette Hughes, of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Other surviving family members include her son, Steve Geddes of Midland; daughter-in-law Missy Geddes of Midland; daughters Anne Geddes Bunce of Austin, Texas and Donna Chase Womack of Paris, Texas; and son-in-law Tony Womack of Paris, Texas. She is also survived by her seven granddaughters: Lauren and Amber Holcomb of Mansfield, Texas; and the Fab Five—Kirsten Geddes of Tempe, Arizona; Skylar Geddes of Princeton, Texas; Elisabeth Geddes of Midland; Caroline Bunce of Fort Worth, Texas; and Sydney Bunce of Austin, Texas. She will also be missed by a loving extended family.

Susanne is preceded in death by her parents, F.A. and Vivian Manaugh; her husband, Don Michael “Mike” Chase; and two sons: Don and James Chase. Susanne’s family would like to express their gratitude to the 8^th floor staff at Midland Memorial Hospital and the staff at Cowden Cottage at Manor Park. They are grateful also for the support of the Reverend Mother Amy Haynie and all the ministry staff and congregants at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. Many thanks especially to Lynda Lane, Martha Davis, and Jane Wolf.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to JDRF (jdrf.org/donate/) to aid in research for a cure for Type 1 diabetes. Two of the Fab Five are T1D warriors, and their Grandma lived with the hope that the disease will be eradicated in their lifetime.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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