Louise Gachet Chiles

Louise Gachet Chiles passed away on Friday, May 5, 2017. She was born in Rochester, NY and moved with her family before beginning school to Lakeland, FL, where her father was a pediatrician. She was a member of the graduating class of 1953 from Lakeland High School, attended the University of Florida, and following her marriage lived in Birmingham, AL and Memphis, TN before moving to Louisville in 1966.

After coming to Louisville she became active in various PTA groups and in The Younger Woman's Club of St. Matthews. She was appointed in the early 1970's by then-Mayor Harvey Sloane as a member of his advisory committee for the Museum of History and Science (now the Louisville Science Center). She continued to serve that organization for many years, both as a Commission Member appointed by several Mayors and also through her volunteer work on various committees. She and her husband were volunteer curators of an exhibit there, which was shown from 2005-2008.

Louise once shared her talents as a pianist, substitute organist and children's and youth worker for over 50 years at Westport Road Baptist Church, which the family joined and became active in 1966.
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In 1976 she began working in the Department of Psychiatry at the University Of Louisville School Of Medicine. For most of her career there she was the Residency Coordinator, and retired from that position in 2001. She was proud of the many psychiatrists who are practicing in Louisville, the state of KY, and over the nation whom she helped train.

In addition to belonging to Westport Road Baptist Church, she was an active member of The Woman's Club of Louisville, J.B. Speed Art Museum, Association of the Louisville Orchestra, Louisville Nature Center, Kentucky Society of Natural History, Beckham Bird Club, Bernheim Forest and Arboretum Center, a Kentucky Colonel, and a founding member of the University Club.

Louise was the beloved wife and best friend of Joe W. Chiles for 64 years, and the loving mother of Joe W. Chiles Jr.(who preceded her in death in 1998), Donald G. (Debra) of Louisville, and Robert L. (Nancy) of Marietta, GA. Her grandchildren, Joe W. Chiles III of Columbus, OH., Marguerite G. "Maggie" Root (Josh) of Russell Springs, Brandon G. of Louisville, and Carlson L. and Taylor L. of Marietta, GA., were quite special to her as well as her great-grandchildren, Jameson and Lyla Root, who always gave her much pleasure and made her proud with their accomplishments; She was also survived by her brother Fred S. Gachet, M.D. (Shirley) of Hickory, NC, several nieces and nephews, and three step-grandchildren of Louisville and their families.

Visitation will be held 4-7pm Friday, May 12, 2017 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 235 Juneau Drive in Middletown. A celebration of Louise's life will be 11am Saturday, May 13th at Westport Road Baptist Church, 9705 Westport Road, Louisville, KY., 40241. Burial will follow in Cave Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be sent to Bernheim Forest and Arboretum Center, P.O. Box 130, Clermont, KY 40110 for the Big Meadow Wildflower Fund (which was established in 1998 in memory of Joe W. Chiles, Jr.) or Westport Road Baptist Church.

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