M Theobell Tate

Theobell (Tucker) Tate, widow of Paul W. Tate, passed from this life at age 100 on Jan. 31. Born on Oct. 19, 1918, outside Ramona, Oklahoma, to Oran and Jennie (Street) Tucker, Mrs. Tate attended Ramona schools. She married Paul W. Tate of Oglesby on Dec. 31, 1938, and they made their home in Bartlesville, where they raised their three children, Brenda, Ronald, and Elaine. Mrs. Tate was employed at the original TG&Y store in Pennington Hills Shopping Center and also worked part-time at the Washington County Treasurer’s office before taking a position as secretary to the Washington County Superintendent of Schools. She retired from that job in 1982. An active member of the First Church of the Nazarene, Mrs. Tate was the first woman to serve on the board of the Bartlesville congregation. She held many other positions with First Nazarene including Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School director, and she participated in the church orchestra, Sanctuary Choir, Handbell Choir, and Senior Adult Choir. On Sept. 25, 1997, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Nazarene World Mission Society of Bartlesville First Church of the Nazarene, “In appreciation for her loyal dedication the past 48 years, serving faithfully in the NWMS, Church Board, Senior Adult Ministries, Choir, and Vacation Bible School.” Mrs. Tate served as president of the Highland Park School PTA when her two older children attended there, and served as a precinct supervisor for the Washington County Election Board for several years. A widow since Paul, her husband of more than 50 years, passed in 1989, Mrs. Tate lived by herself until she was 96 years of age. She is survived by her daughter, Elaine Tate Gaut of Bartlesville and her husband, Bob; son-in-law J. D. Stotts, of Bartlesville: four grandchildren, David Wesley Tate of Fayetteville, N.C., Jodi-Kaye Tate Luera of Snellville, Ga., Greg Stotts of Longmont, Colo., and Dana Stotts Kahl of Bentonville, Ark.; nine great grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; a daughter, Brenda Tate Stotts; a son, Ronald P. Tate; and a great grandson, Paul W. Tate. A graveside service will be held at Ramona Cemetery on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Dan Dennison officiating directed by the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.

M Theobell Tate

October 19, 1918 - January 31, 2019