Chase Alan Pickard of Ocean Isle Beach, NC died unexpectedly Sunday, November 19, 2023.  Born on May 30, 1989, Chase was 34 years old, son of Missy Aldridge Pickard, and brother of Mallory Amanda Pickard (Andrew Martin). He was predeceased by his Dad in 2012, Mark Alan Pickard, by whose loss he continued to be markedly impacted.  His maternal grandfather, Allen D. Aldridge Sr. of Waynesville, NC  passed away just days after Chase, on November 22. Chase was also predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Jerry and Thelma Pickard of Asheboro, NC. He is also survived by his maternal grandmother whom he adored, "Nanny" Gretchen Morck Aldridge of Waynesville, NC, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

 Chase was gregarious, precocious and fun-loving and grew up in Durham, Knightdale, and Raleigh before moving on to College and beyond.  Starting out at College of Charleston, Chase had completed three years when Mark was diagnosed with Metastatic Melanoma.  Chase chose to withdraw from school and come home to be with the family for the time that Mark had left.  A little over a year later Chase headed west to Denver, where many of his Wakefield High School friends had landed after college. He re-enrolled in college there and worked several jobs before joining a Residential Solar firm.  Years later, he transferred to Florida with the Solar company.  He lived in Madeira Beach, FL for four years and made some wonderful friendships, as he also did in Charleston and Denver.  He moved back home for a year, then on to San Diego for a short while, where a friend from College of Charleston was living. 

 For nearly the past two years, Chase had enjoyed living at the beach; long swims in the ocean or just walking the puppy at the beach, when he wasn't working.

 Chase loved traveling, music of all kinds, concerts, nature, cooking, boating, swimming and sunsets at the beach, and Duke basketball. But most of all he loved his family and friends, including many he kept in touch with since Wakefield High School and beyond.  He truly enjoyed and sought to meet new people from all walks of life.  He also had the gift of gab, and enjoyed talking with several of his friends and his Granddad many times every week about any and everything.  

 Family and friends are invited to come and share fond memories and stories at a Celebration of Life in Raleigh, early in 2024.

 Chase had a soft spot for those in need, or anyone who was just plain lonely, and volunteered locally to that end. So we will honor him in some way which will reflect his concerns for the hungry and the homeless as we celebrate his life.  Chase will never be forgotten, but forever remembered and missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

 “You never said I’m leaving, you never said goodbye. You were gone before we knew it, and only God knew why. A million times we needed you, a million times we cried. If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place that no one could ever fill. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone. For part of us went with you, the day God took you home.”    Author Unknown