Obituary of Vanette Rita Chase

Vanette Rita (Chenoweth) ChaseVan Chase was an Athabascan, born on March 25, 1930 in Koyukuk Alaska, along the Yukon River. She passed away on June 11, 2009 in Seattle, following many years of complications from a 1990 motor vehicle accident.An avid reader and gardener she spent many hours reading mysteries and thrillers often could be found in the local libraries browsing the stacks. She was always planning her next big gardening adventure, reading gardening books and magazines and developing plans for another addition to her back yard garden.A life-long educator she taught biology and chemistry at Everett Community College and at the University of Washington. She also spent the past 40 years as an ardent advocate for healthcare for all Native Americans, working with local, state and federal agencies to locate funding and to expand the sses for those that need health care.Van served on the executive board of the Seattle Indian Health Board from 1974-1976, serving as the board chairman for two years. In 1976 she went back to work at the University of Washington as an academic counselor for minority student in various departments finally settling at the Health Science Center retiring in 1988 as the Program Director and counselor for the Minority Student Health Program.In 1988 she went to work for the federal government serving at the Indian Health Service offices in Rockville Maryland as a Senior Planner and analyst before returning to Seattle in 1992 now employed with the CDC as a Public Health advisor for the Northwest region.She again retired in 2000 only to return to teaching at the Northwest Indian College north of Bellingham and most recently serving as a substitute Math and Science teacher for middle and high school students in the Mukilteo School district.Van is survived by her three sons, John Chenoweth, Edmonds WA, Richard Chase, Seattle WA, Chris Chase, Lynnwood WA and by her brother Mark Allen, his son Charlie and their families.A life celebration is being planned for this fall.