Ashley E. Chase, age 88, of Tecumseh, Michigan, went to be with the Lord on October 24, 2025, under the loving care of Hospice of Lenawee and his family. He was born on April 9, 1937, in Tecumseh, Michigan, the son of Sheldon and Mildred (Maynard) Chase. On June 9, 1956, Ashley married Linda Johnson of Tecumseh. They celebrated 68 years of marriage before her death on February 23, 2025.
Ashley worked as an expeditor at Tecumseh Products Co., and as the bookkeeper, and eventual co-owner of the Tecumseh Equipment Co. He retired from a local printing business, where he had served as an estimator. As a life-long Tecumseh resident, Ashley loved Tecumseh and was a well-known Tecumseh historian. He especially loved researching the history behind buildings in the downtown Tecumseh area. He authored and published two books on the history of Tecumseh, and, in 2018, he was the recipient of The Musgrove Evans Award. Ashley loved the Lord and served him faithfully throughout his life as a member of the Tecumseh Friends Church, Adrian Church of the Nazarene, and Turning Point Church, serving in the areas of finance and assisting in children’s Sunday School classes. Ashley loved people, loved making them laugh, and loved showing kindness to everyone he met. He especially loved his family and time spent with them.
Ashley is survived by his children, Jackie (Gale) Spohr of Adrian, Doug (Joyce) Chase of Adrian, Carrie (Todd) Armstrong of Clayton; grandchildren, Steven (Melissa) Chase, Erik (Tara) Spohr, Chad (Bethany) Spohr, Michael (Stephanie) Chase, Ashley (Nick) Nease, and Wendy (Jon) Danna; great-grandchildren, Jackson Spohr, Ramiro Perez, Anderson Spohr, Collin Chase, Eliza Spohr, Kaine Salloum, Silas Spohr, Landon Nease, Selah Spohr, Isabel Spohr, Emersyn Nease, J.T Danna, Jordan Danna; and sister, Marge Chase. Along with his wife, Linda, he was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Carolyn Chase.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 31, at 11:00am at Turning Point Church of Lenawee, 3300 Baldwin Hwy, in Adrian, Michigan, with Rev. Erik Spohr officiating and Pastor Christy Shaw assisting. Visitation will take place from 4:00 – 8:00 on Thursday, October 30, at the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Homes and also at Turning Point Church of Lenawee on Friday, one hour prior to service. Interment will immediately follow at Brookside Cemetery in Tecumseh. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee or Turning Point Church of Adrian.