October 26, 1942 – October 6, 2022
Edward E. Chase, Jr., a native and resident of Franklin, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at his home on October 6, 2022, twenty days shy of his eightieth birthday, from myelodysplasia, a rare blood cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Marsha McNulty of Franklin, Louisiana, his daughter Lisa Alexander and Dean Doles of Parker, Texas, and his granddaughters, Lauren Alexander of Baltimore, Maryland and Rachel Alexander of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by his siblings, Rev. Charley Chase and his wife Sue of Griffin, Georgia; Frank Chase and his wife Barbara of Enid, Oklahoma; Courtney Gary and his wife Rosemary of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and Elodie Pruitt and her husband Logan of Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his mother, Verna Savoy Gary, and his father, Edward E. Chase, Sr.
Ed was a most remarkable man and lived an exceptionally accomplished life. He was a nationally known legal writer, scholar, attorney, and law professor. He was an avid duck hunter and consummate musician.
Ed was raised in Franklin by his aunt Kitty Chase and graduated from Franklin High School in 1960. He was a member of the 1958 State championship basketball team and was an outstanding track athlete. After graduating from high school, he attended Williams College in Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1965. He also attended Harvard Divinity School. Ed then moved back to Louisiana and attended Tulane Law School, where he was on the Tulane Law Review and Order of the Coif. He then moved to New Jersey where he was a law school professor at Rutgers for nearly thirty years. After retirement, Ed returned home to Franklin where he practiced law and taught at Loyola Law School for several years.
In addition to being an outstanding attorney and professor, Ed was a well-recognized legal writer and authority on property law and trusts. Ed co-wrote a common law property textbook that is used in many law schools across the country. He also wrote the Louisiana Civil Law Treatise on Trusts (2nd and 3rd editions). Ed wrote numerous articles for Law School Reviews and scholarly legal journals.
When away from those pursuits, he was an avid duck hunter and marksman. During his time in New Jersey, he was named New Jersey’s State Skeet Champion. He loved duck hunting with his friends or by himself. He took great pleasure in cleaning and giving away the ducks he shot to family and friends.
He also loved playing keyboard with his band mates in The 5 o’clock Shadows. He originally started the band, then called The Shadows, in the late 50’s before leaving for college. When he returned after retirement, he got the band back together and they have been making great swamp pop music ever since. He enjoyed playing with them and loved watching his friends and fans dancing to the music.
Ed was a voracious reader and book collector. He and his wife Marsha took great pleasure in annually attending and acquiring books at the New Orleans Symphony Book Fair, leaving for another time the problem of where they would shelve their ever growing book collection.
Although his accomplishments were numerous, Ed should be remembered mostly for who he was. He was a kind, generous man. He was incredibly modest. He was decent. He was a gentleman.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at Ibert’s Mortuary in Franklin from 9:00 AM until time of memorial services at 11:00 AM. His brother, Rev. Charley Chase will officiate the service. Inurnment will follow in the Franklin Cemetery.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are his band members in the 5 o’clock Shadows: Butch Bergeron, S. J. Hebert, Freddie LaFont, Effron Savoy, Arthur Sinitiere, and Ricky Venable.
The family would like to thank the following people who were of such help when Ed was sick: Dr. Michael Cain and Ms. Allison Bertrand, Nurse Practitioner, as well as the staff at Ochsner Cancer Center of Lafayette, and Dr. Roland Degeyter.
Donations in Ed’s memory can be made to Williams College, Ducks Unlimited, and the St. Mary Parish Library.
Family and friends may view the obituary online by visiting www.iberts.com and are encouraged to share their condolences, cherished memories, love, and support for the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.