09/14/2025
Chase Liebler, 36, of Lexington, SC, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Born on July 5, 1989, in Columbia, Chase was the son of Steven M. Liebler and Debbie Ropp Liebler. He was a 2007 graduate of Dutch Fork High School, where he was a member of the golf team beginning in seventh grade. He went on to graduate from the University of South Carolina in 2011 with a degree in Sports and Entertainment Management. While at USC, he was a member of the men’s golf team and Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Chase built a career that reflected both his love of golf and his gift for connecting with people. His professional journey included work as an intern at Empire Sports Management in Columbia, the Pennsylvania Golf Association, and as a PJ Boatwright Intern with the Golf Association of Philadelphia. He later served as Tournament Office Coordinator at Pinehurst Resort, Assistant Director of Junior Golf with the Carolinas Golf Association, Account Manager at KW Beverage of Columbia, and most recently, as an Account Manager with Southern Crown Partners in Columbia.
Chase is survived by his loving wife, Katie Dutton Liebler, and their daughter, Emilie MacLaurin Liebler, along with their beloved dog, Jack Buddy. He is also survived by his parents, Steven and Debbie Liebler; his brother, Kyle Liebler, and niece, Hannah Liebler; his grandmother, Ethel Williams Ropp of Suffolk, VA; and extended family including Diane Naff (aunt), David Ropp (uncle) and his partner Dawn, Butch Liebler (uncle), Kathi Calveard (aunt), and Bettianne Sweeney (aunt). He will also be deeply missed by his “Big Game Cousins” and their families—Jessica Naff, Ryan Naff (Megan), Matt Ropp (Jean), and Allen Ropp (Jennie)—as well as his Liebler cousins, Brian, Matthew, and Lyndsay, and many other family members. He is additionally survived by his father- and mother-in-law, Pete and Sue Dutton, and brother-in-law, William Dutton.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Al and Anne Liebler and Bob Ropp, along with uncles Lloyd Liebler and Mike Naff.
Chase never met a stranger. He loved his family deeply, especially time spent with Emilie over pink strawberry donuts at Dunkin’ or breakfast at Waffle House. Banana pudding was always his birthday request. Golf was his lifelong passion, from his early days as a junior player through caddying for friends—even spending time on the Korn Ferry Tour in the Bahamas. He also enjoyed baseball, soccer, and basketball in his youth, but his heart always belonged to golf and to cheering for his beloved Gamecocks, especially football and basketball.
The family will gather to honor Chase’s life with an informal visitation on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, 7600 Woodrow Street, Irmo, SC. Friends are invited to come casual or in golf attire, and bring memories to share about Chase.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation, Memorial Giving (scjgf.org), PO Box 286, Irmo, SC 29063, or to a cause meaningful to you.
