Luke Abbott Chase, 81, of Columbia, passed away January 1, 2009 at Boone Hospital Center. A memorial service will be held at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 South, Ninth St., in Columbia, at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 10, 2009. Luke was born at home on North 8th Street in Columbia on May 3, 1927, to Alma Dee (nee) Bradley and Merton Floyd Chase. He lived most of his life in Columbia. He was very close to his mother, older brothers and sister, all now passed, who provided a stable home during the Depression and the beginning of WWII. In his young years, Luke was an avid Sea Scout. He attended Eugene Field Elementary School and made many lifelong freinds there. He was a paper boy for the Columbia Daily Tribune. In 1944, Luke was elected Student Body President of DH Hickman High School. He was editor of the Purple & Gold, performed in numerous plays and operettas and graduated in 1945. He served in the US Navy at the end of World War II, on a troop carrier that brought home servicemen after the war in the South Pacific. Upon his return to Columbia, he attended the University of Missouri and graduated from the School of Journalism in 1951. After graduation, he served in the US Air Force for 2 years, stationed at Billy Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, WI. He produced the base newspaper and began a passion for photography. Afterward he returned to Mid-Missouri and took a writing and photo position with the Missouri Highway Commission in Jefferson City. Luke and Elinor Jane Wilson, of Columbia, married in 1948. They had two sons, Steven and David. In 1948, they moved to Los Angeles, CA. Luke worked for Ralph's Grocery Company where he edited the store chain's monthly magazine. Luke and Elinor divorced in 1962. Luke returned to Columbia in 1965 and was employed as a display ad salesman with the Columbia Daily Tribune. Later he became manager of the deaprtment. Luke and Betty Joan Thompson, of Columbia, married in 1966. They had one son, Kirtley. Luke and Joan met when Joan worked at Gene Glenn's, one of Luke's important ad accounts. The Downtown Optimist Club and Optimist International were in Luke's heart. He served as President of the Columbia club and Lieutenant Governor and Governor of the Eastern Missouri Region. He visted many Optimist Clubs in the area, working to improve their service to the underprivleged youth of their communities. Luke loved history. He traced his family roots to the early settlers of Boone County. He studied the Civil War and the characters of that era. Luke and Joan visited many Civil War battle grounds. Luke had a deep appreciation for English his entire life. He began writing poetry at age 72. "First Verse", the collection of his first 70 poems, was published in 2003. Luke is survived by his wife of 41 years, Joan, three sons and their families, Steven (and Sharon), Kirtley (and Lisa Sachs), Overland Park, KS and David (and Kim), Gladstone, MO; three grandsons, Matthew, Leawood, KS, Alexander, Lawrence, KS and Andrew, Manhattan, KS; one nephew, Bernard (and Pat), Oak Lawn, IL. The family thanks the excellent physicians, nurses, techs and staff of Boone Hospital center for their considerate care of Luke in his final days. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Luke's memory to the Downtown Optimist Club, PO Box 1959, Columbia, MO 65205, Attn: Steve Klein, Treasurer.