My journey of life began on March 20, 1949 in Cane Creek, OK to the union of Walter Tate Sr. and Elizabeth (Elston) Tate. My mother died when I was very young and after her death my father met and married Viola (Henry) Tate who with great love and care raised my siblings and I as her own. Most of my childhood was spent working the fields alongside my brothers while attending Taft Public Schools. I graduated from Taft Moton High School in 1967. After high school, I enlisted in the United States Army where I served honorably on active duty in the Vietnam War and then as a reservist in the Oklahoma National Guard.

On March 28, 1970, I married Arlene Joyce James and to this union my five children were born. I raised my kids to work hard and always put Christ first and my favorite saying to them was "Do Your Best." I was employed at the Oklahoma Children's Center in Taft, OK as a juvenile counselor until I had to retire at the age of 40. While working and raising my family I received my call to serve our most gracious God and started a new journey of studying, teaching, and preaching God's Holy Word.

I was a faithful student of Oklahoma Bible College and Liberty Bible College, receiving many certificates and finished with my Bachelor's Degree earlier this year. In my Christian journey, I was the Chaplain for the Trinity Masonic Lodge #84. Teaching the Word of God was my passion. I was a proud teacher of the Collate District and I was overjoyed to be the teacher for the Senior Adult Sunday School Class at my church. I was blessed to have the opportunity to preach and teach at Wilson Chapel Baptist Church on HWY 16; at Macedonia Baptist Church and finally at Deans Chapel Baptist Church, where I was the Assistant to the Pastor of my good friend, Rev. Donald E. Dumas.

During my journey, I went through many trials with the loss of my first wife, two of my children and my father, just to name a few. But through the grace of God, my faith never wavered and the blessings overflowed. Later in my journey came my 6 beautiful grandchildren, whom I love and cherish dearly and I was also blessed with my wife, Charlotte (Mabrey) Tate, who helped me finish my life journey.

After 65 wonderful years, on November 29th, I finally heard the words I'd longed to hear "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I am now reunited with my parents, Walter, Elizabeth and Viola Mae Tate; my first wife Arlene, two of our children, Franklin Delano Tate Jr. and Shanea Elizabeth Tate and three of my brothers: West, Dwight and Jeff Tate.

My legacy lives on in my children: Arlene Joyce Tate Jr.; Courtney Jerome Tate (Toya) both of Muskogee; and Estella Danielle Davis (Carlos) of Tulsa; my devoted wife, Charlotte. My grandchildren: Lavare Reed; Kourtlyn and Kourie Tate; Marchella Stanford-Davis and Kemonte` and Coreyon Davis. My sisters: Erma Jean Lewis, Wichita, KS; Laura Walker, Las Vegas, NV; Harrien Hale, Muskogee; and Hazel Tate, Palatine, IL. My brothers: Walter Tate Jr., Muskogee; Allen Sherron (Eugenia), Taft; Richard Tate (Danetta), Muskogee; Cleo Durant, Minneapolis, MN; Donald Ray Durant and Pete Durant. I also leave behind my step-children, Judson Mabrey and Samantha Mitchell and their children, many nieces and nephews and lots of cousins and many, many more family and friends.

The Final Salute to Elder Tate will commence on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. in the Timothy Baptist Church, Pastor Kelly Payne is the gracious host and Reverend Donald E. Dumas, Pastor of Dean's Chapel Baptist Church will officiate.

Burial will follow in the Doyle Cemetery at Yahola, Oklahoma.

You may visit Elder Tate, as he slumbers in peaceful repose at the funeral home on Friday from10 AM until 6 PM.