Martha Chase Moss
Martha Chase Moss, 92, passed away on January 31, 2024, at The Glen in Shreveport. She was born February 7, 1931, at her family home near Waterproof, to Jesse Ben Chase and Audrey Slocumb Chase.
Martha received her high school diploma in 1948 from Waterproof High School, where she was in the last class to graduate from a Louisiana high school in 11 years, not 12 years like it is now. She attended Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi, for one year before returning to Louisiana, where she received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Louisiana Tech University and roomed with her childhood and lifelong friend, Betty Lou Lancaster Robertson.
Everyone needs a sister, a mom, an aunt, a Nanny, or a friend like Martha. Among her many wonderful qualities, the best and the one that will hopefully remain part of her legacy, was her ability to make you feel heard and important. She was blessed with a spirit of positivity, always sharing encouraging words to anyone she met. Her favorite saying was, “Oh that is just won-der-ful ... won-der-ful,” her words stretching out in her distinct Southern drawl.
One of Martha’s greatest joys was educating others. She began her teaching career in Pasadena, Texas, where she taught for three years at Pearl Hall Elementary. Her next teaching position was in Simsboro, where she taught for five years. Martha was a “Charter Staff” member of Cedar Creek School, which opened in 1970, outlasting colleagues during her 34- year tenure, and retired in 2004 as the last original teacher.
In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, watching tennis, playing bridge, gin rummy with her brother, and the blooming of her flowers that she kept an eye on from her dining room window.
Those of us who are left to cherish her memories count ourselves lucky that we were often invited into her home to share a (very) strong cup of coffee. During these visits, if you were especially lucky, she would play her baby grand piano or serve you some of her famous “Marie Louise” eggnog in special china cups with silver spoons.
Martha’s brothers all adored her and thought she could do no wrong. Nieces, nephews, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren had the benefit of her loyalty where she was determined to always be in your corner. Throughout Martha’s life, she remained close with her childhood friends and her sister-in-law, whom she counted more as a sister than anything else.
Martha was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Ben Chase; mother, Audrey Slocumb Chase; brothers, Buck Chase ( Margie) and Dan Chase (Lilly); nephew, Ben Chase Jr.; niece, Lisa Chase Potter; sister-in-law, Mary Helen Moss, and lifelong childhood friend, Betty Hazlip.
She is survived by her two sons, Bill Moss ( Kathy) and Michael Moss ( Angelica); her brother, Edgar Chase (Kathy); her five grandchildren, Sarah Moss Yee ( Jason), Zachary Moss ( Catherine), Camille Moss Thornson, Emily Moss Kegan (Brent), and Nekoa Moss. She is also survived by eight greatgrandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Martha’s Ruston family ( Mary Catherine Moss, Mary Helen Moss, and Betty Lou Robertson) and her Shreveport family (Edgar Chase and Judy O’Neal Williams) for the care, love and support of Martha.
As Martha’s last unselfish act, she donated her body to LSU Medical School.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 10 a.m. in Ruston, at the Trinity Methodist Burkhalter Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in her honor to the Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston.
