Chase Hunter Townsend

Chase Hunter Townsend, known to friends and family as "Hunter," passed away on December 14, 2025, at the age of 41 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Hunter graduated from Male High School and the University of Kentucky and spent his final years in South Carolina, where he found joy in the beach and built lasting friendships.

Hunter's adventurous spirit defined his life. After college, he embraced the slopes as a black diamond skier, spending winters in Vail, Colorado, working at a ski resort.

When the snow melted, he followed the sun to St. Croix, where he enjoyed snorkeling and scubadiving. Ultimately, Hunter found his true home in South Carolina, where his love for the ocean continued. He was an enthusiastic participant in the annual Polar Plunge on New Year's Day. He enjoyed upland hunting trips with his father and childhood friends, as well as driving fast cars, having attended several Skip Barber Racing Schools and Porsche Driving Weekends at Mid-Ohio Racetrack.

Hunter was renowned for his warmth and ability to forge enduring friendships, many of which began in high school and lasted throughout his life. His "hospitality personality" served him well in his career in food service, especially at the Long Island Café on the Isle of Palms, where he was beloved by coworkers and customers alike. Hunter made everyone feel valued and was famous for his long, heartfelt "bear hugs."

Hunter's kindness and genuine warmth touched everyone who knew him. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by his family, friends, and all whose lives he brightened.

Hunter is survived by his father, Charles Townsend, and stepmother, Betsy Townsend, of Cincinnati, Ohio; his stepfather, Chris Maron of Apollo Beach, Florida; his aunts, Carlene Apple, Debbie Hale, Charlene Raynor (Roy), Karen Townsend and Narita York, all of Louisville, Kentucky; and his cousins, Rob Carraco (Gabriella) of Chesapeake, Virginia, Kristen Duncan (Scott), Dana Fowler (Steve), Rebecca Parker (Jason), Amy Powell (Tom), and Deryl York (Carla), of Louisville, Kentucky, Jason Hale (Stephanie) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Andy McGibbon (Kaitlin) of Redwood City, California, Peter Townsend (Elizabeth) of Nashville, Tennessee, Brian York of Walton Beach, Florida and Jessica Ysursa (Mick) of Eagle, Idaho. 

Hunter is preceded in death by his mother, Teresa Maron.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Coastal Conservation League in memory of Hunter.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation, 869 St. James Avenue, Goose Creek, SC 29445, (843) 553-1511.