North Pomfret, Vermont

Elaine J. Longley Chase, 93, of North Pomfret, VT passed away January 5, 2024, comforted by the loving hands of her family.

She was born in Pelham, MA on April 6, 1930, in a "Maternity Home" before many expectant mothers delivered in hospitals, to Perry F. and Lillian Daisy (Parsons) Longley. She spent her early years in Amherst, MA where her father was employed on a large dairy farm. The family later moved to Stockbridge, VT to her grandfather's poultry farm. She attended a one room school house until high school when she rode a school bus for the first time.

Elaine was raised at twelve by her father and grandmother, Anna Bowman Longley, after her mother left. She worked and lived at the Hotel Emery for a time during high school returning home after the decline of her grandmother. Two years later her grandmother's health worsened and Elaine took over her grandmother's role, cooking and caring for the house and her father, younger brother and herself. She graduated from Whitcomb High School in 1948 with a "commercial diploma" and began working as a payroll clerk at the local plywood mill.

Elaine met her future husband, Lysle Chase, on a blind date and they married on January 2, 1949. Elaine married into a large, fun and loving family. Her mother-in-law taught her to cook, can and preserve food. They lived in a small mobile home in CT where Lysle worked during their first winter. They moved back to North Pomfret, Vermont in the spring. She and Lysle purchased the Galaxy Hill Farm in 1956, along with her in-laws Moses and Rena Chase, where they raised their five children. They were married for 71 ½ years until Lysle's death in 2020. Their farm of registered Jerseys received many awards for the quality of their milk. Together, she and her husband grew and raised most of their own food. The family would devour her freshly baked bread and desserts, as no meal was complete without one of her desserts.

Elaine was always involved with church and community activities. She was a past member of the elementary and high school boards, a deaconess, trustee, treasurer and longtime member of the North Pomfret Congregational Church as well as a member of the Ladies Circle of the church, a group who sewed quilts for a charity raffle each year. She was the co-chair of the church's annual Strawberry Supper for many years and helped with the annual church auction. Elaine served as a trustee for the Abbott Memorial Library and as a long time member and volunteer of the Pomfret Historical Society. She was a founding member of the Pomfret Fast Squad, a first responder group for the town. She was also a Justice of the Peace and performed several family wedding services. Elaine was named to the building committee when the three one-room school houses were consolidated into one new building and she developed the school's first landscape plan, organizing family members and friends to help with the planting. She was employed at Sugarbush Farm for over 30 years.

She was well known for her colorful and unique flower gardens and could be found working in them well into dusk. She was always happy to divide her plants to share with others. Her love of gardening led her to develop and maintain the gardens at the North Pomfret Congregational Church.

Once the children were grown and the farm sold, Elaine enjoyed traveling with friends to many foreign countries. She was fascinated by the different cultures and continued her travels until her late 70's. Back at home the playing cards were always within easy reach for the beloved family card game of "Thirteen" . King Pede was a popular card game at the time that she and Lysle played with other couples.

She and Lysle found family the most important part of their lives. They helped organize and participated in the yearly extended Chase family reunions for over fifty years, gathering in various states sometimes with up to 170 participants. These gatherings became a tradition begun by the elder Chase family in the 1950's. Elaine took the photos for and created the photo albums from each year's gathering until her mid-eighties. The community and family will miss Elaine's community spirit and fabulous baked pies, cookies and cupcakes which she so readily shared and donated to fundraising efforts.

Elaine is survived by her four children, Jeanna Hamblet of Keene, NH, Keith(Ona) Chase of North Pomfret, VT, Tamara Phillips( David) of North Thetford, VT and Jenness Burns (George) of Hartland, VT. She is also survived by nine grandchildren; Christopher Hamblet, Caitlin Whitehead (Jitu), Eric Chase (Valerie), Perry Chase (Demetra), Matthew Chase (Sarah), Danielle Chase (fiancé Clint Jester), Heather Rosemond (Cory), Justin LeBlanc (Michelle) and Hayden Chase and 11 great grandchildren; Ava, Jay, Cody, Hayley, Lysle, Kaylin, Chloe, Emma, Lily, Miles and Jensen, all of which were her pride and joy. She was also "Gramma" to Erin and Dominic and "Great Gramma" to Maya and Willow. She is also survived by two sisters, Phyllis P Whitcomb, PhD of Burlington, VT and Bette W Burns (Francis) of Holiday, FL., her daughter-in-law Carroll Chase of Baltimore, MD and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Lysle and their son, Kim Moses Chase, Chief Warrant Officer, USCG, retired and her brothers Douglas E. Longley and Richard (Buddy) E. Whitcomb.

The Cabot Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A Celebration of Life will take place Friday May 31, 2024 at 10:00am at the North Pomfret Congregational Church in North Pomfret.  Elaine had flowers to enjoy all her life so, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Thompson Senior Center, 99 Senior Lane, West Woodstock, VT 05091, the Upper Valley Haven 713 Hartford Ave., White River Jct. 05001, BAYADA Home Health Care( Vermont Hospice Services) 316 Main St. Unit EH6 Norwich, VT 05055 or the charity of your choice.