John Edward Chase, of Clayton, passed away Oct. 12, 2021
John was born on Jan. 19, 1965 in Lantana Florida, to John William Chase and Vera H. Chase. He was educated at the prestigious Kings Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was also an ordained minister in a non-denominational church in Westgate, Palm Beach County, Florida. The same church that his stepfather, Bob Sawyer, served for 50 years. Upon graduation, John and the Sawyer family opened a restaurant in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. John was the first chef in the restaurant and helped to build it into a success. John was a chef at Prontis Italian Kitchen in North Palm Beach, then became the assistant manager at Ambrosia Restaurant in West Palm Beach. He managed many restaurant locations in while in Florida, including Hooters and Dominos.
In 1986, He moved to Georgia to join his mother, Vera Sawyer. His first employment in Rabun County was Earl and John’s restaurant in Dillard. He was the first chef at Julia’s Restaurant on 441 in Clayton, and was a manager for Pizza Hut after that. He was a chef for many fine restaurants and accommodations in western North Carolina, including a patio kitchen in a country club in Asheville, North Carolina, and the Billy Graham Training Center. He was also a sales rep for Sysco Foods for 16 years.
Four years ago, he moved back to Clayton, to the family home on Boggs Mountain in Tiger. He became a district manager for Little Caesars Franchise which included six locations in Georgia and North Carolina. At the time of his death, he was working for Publix Market in Flowery Branch.
John sacrificed his life and worked so hard for his children and for the Lord. He was of the Baptist faith and is a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. He served in many capacities. He worked in security teams, youth ministry and pastored the Bear Wallow Church in Buncombe County, North Carolina. He officiated weddings and funerals in North Carolina and Georgia.
His big heart was felt by all who came in contact with him. John was a clown, and he loved to make others laugh. He loved to pull pranks and have a good time. He loved good employees, and would always do great things for them. He took care of everyone around him. Even though he was the boss, he was a team player! He always had a good time and made everything work somehow Even in the hardest of times, he could make everything fun.
In John’s free time, he loved to go to trainings for his security team. And volunteered at the rolling food trucks to feed the firefighters and emergency services, taking food out on 4-wheelers to feed the first responders.
John is survived by his three children, Naomi Chase and Lilli Chase, both of Clayton, and Jaxen Chase, of Daytona Beach, Florida; his sister, Sandra (Darryl) Killingsworth of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; three nieces, Jenna, Kimberly, and Angela; one nephew, Joshua; and his mother, Vera Hope Sawyer of Boggs Mountain Road in Tiger, Georgia.
He was preceded in death by his older sister Pamela; his father, John William Chase; and his stepfather, Bob Sawyer.
Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of cremation.
In honor of John, in lieu of flowers, an education fund has been set up at Oconee Federal Bank, in Clayton for Lilli Chase, who is in her senior year at Rabun County High School, as she hopes to become a writer for Christian television.