Businessman, 91 year old Chauncey I. Morse, of Defiance, Ohio, passed away Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Defiance Regional Medical Center. Also known as Chance or C.I., he was born in Defiance, the only child of Harry Roberts (H.R.) and Helen (Behringer) Morse, April 18, 1925. Entering this world prematurely-barely two and a half pounds-he was so tiny his mom kept him in her dresser drawer. By adulthood he had grown to be over six foot two, with eyes Torch Lake
blue, and blessed with an enchanting smile and winning ways.

Mr. Morse--most generally know as Chance or C.I.--was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. Following the war, he attended Denison Univ., flew in the Reserves, and married his long time sweetheart, Miss Hilda Bilderback. Eventually, he acquired controlling interest in a company started in the 1890s by his own grandfather and namesake, also Chauncey I. Morse. Chance served as president of that business, Defiance Grocery Company- a wholesale supplier
to grocery stores and supermarkets-for several decades. He also was co-owner of a chain of Ohio car washes, the Napoleon Wash-N-Fill, a management position he retained until very recent years.

Over the numerous decades of his long life in Defiance, Chance belong to any number of local organizations and boards. Mr. Morse was actively involved in Defiance Rotary until his physical situation rapidly deteriorated about a year ago. The board of directors he served on include Defiance College, Defiance Hospital, and the National Bank of Defiance. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Hilda Morse, who resides locally. The couple would have been married sixty-seven
years on the twenty-fifth of this month. Their only child, Dr. Julie Morse Havighurst, resides in Cleveland, Ohio.

Chance loved working on anything that ran by gasoline engine; especially treasuring his 40 foot Sea Ray named the "Sea Saw"; a boat lovingly maintained for years by his loyal-to-the-end friend, superb marine mechanic, Craig Kennedy. In both earliest and most recent years C.I. docked his pride and joy near Toledo. From there-merely an hour and a half from his home in Defiance- he, and his many buddies, could do daylong fishing trips; occasionally taking longer
trips up to the Georgian Bay. Sometimes traveling with another couple- mainly Lolly and Jimbo Zachrich- the foursome cruised not only Lake Erie and Lake Huron, but also the islands of Lake Michigan. In the middle decades, Chance kept a slip on Lake Charlevoix; the twin armed lake where he docked his most treasured possession when not on overnight trips. That slip was but twenty minutes from his cottage on Intermediate Lake, a place he and his daughter both loved
with all their hearts.

C.I. was a neatness perfectionist, one who enjoyed fixing anything that was broken, as well as cleaning anything with even a speck of dirt! He loved life. Further, he loved people, always wishing to the end to be in the company of others. He was a hail-fellow-well-met. And Chance also enjoyed adventure!

One Friday -a bright, clear, summer, afternoon in the nineteen seventies- Mr. Morse took off in his plane to meet up with his wife at their cottage in Michigan. After twice losing oil pressure, and twice being forced to land without engine power- in order to hopefully save the engine and be able to have an airplane mechanic fix the problem- he once again took off. That time he flew out of a farmer's field, resuming his trip North. Right over the top of a nearby woods the plane's engine blew up! All the poor mechanic could see from his position in the field had been a puff of smoke hanging low over the treetops. When the mechanic made it to the other side of the woods, tall Chance was nonchalantly standing near his damaged plane smiling: presumably either at his own good fortune of still being alive; or at his own skill of successfully surviving his third dead-stick landing in one day--or both! AND, later that same afternoon, C.I. borrowed another plane. Immediately he proceeded up to his cottage to take his wife out for an extremely late hour birthday dinner; only telling her why he had been so very late after he was served his
scotch, she her martini!

Mr. Chauncey Morse was preceded in death by his parents who were previously mentioned, by a stepmother, Frances Waldron Morse, and her daughter, Chauncey's stepsister, Mrs. Robert (Sally) Switzer. Others long gone include his father's two sisters, Defiance High School teacher, Miss Grace O. Morse, and her sister, Miss Leefe Morse. These two maiden aunts he much loved. The pair contributed marvelously to the richness of his upbringing. His maternal aunt, Mrs. M. Cloy Behringer Robinson, who passed away in the early nineteen eighties, and her husband, Dr. Ben Robinson, were also very special to Chance. The childless couple truly loved him like a son, and proved that to Chance in a number of lasting ways.

Many thanks to the friends and caregivers who fought always to make C.I.'s difficult last year of life tolerable. Deepest thanks to friends such as Craig Kennedy, Dick Wise, Mike Duggan, and Millard Robinette; the four old buddies who stayed close to Chance to the end. A special thanks to his kind, and dearly appreciated Internist, Dr. Amer Arshad, and to his staff; to Defiance Fire and Rescue who often transported Chance on a gurney; to Bernard Wisda, who helped with a little of everything; to the many Visiting Angles NW Ohio; as well as to several of the Ohioans' RNs. And nearly last, but certainly not least, to Tiffany Chapman (and family), and Amanda Veres. The latter two being his private nurses, wonderfully fun and caring women who daily gave him humor. Daily they gave Chance the will to carry on during months when he was barely able to move. And not to forget the very last friend my father made in his substantial lifetime: a youngster, a charming lad he nicknamed "Chief". "Chief" is a son of one of Chance's nurses; a good little ball player who recently hit one out of the park for his new friend who has now left us for heaven.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:30 pm on Friday, June 17, 2016 at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, with Military Rites accorded by VFW #3360.

Memorial donations may be sent to Defiance Fire and Rescue, 702 W 3rd St., Defiance, Ohio, to be used toward the purchase of new equipment.
Online condolences can be given at www.schafferfh.com