FRANCIS TATE

Francis Lee Tate, 69, son of Allen and Myrna Tate, was born June 9, 1935, at Fowler. He died Nov. 30, 2004, at his home at Cabool.Mr. Tate and his wife, Betty, owned and operated Tate Equipment from 1970 to 1999. In 1993, they built and operated the Super 8 Motel at Cabool.He was a member of the South Street Church of God in Mountain Grove, was active in the community, serving four terms on the Cabool Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was one of the founders of the Farm Fest.He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth Tate; son, Aaron Tate and two grandchildren.Surviving are his wife of 27 years; one son, Eric Tate of Cabool; two stepsons, Chip Hornsby and David Hornsby of Fairbanks, Alaska; three daughters, Janet Dutton of West Plains, Glenda Hoots of Joplin and Kathy Muckey of McMinnville, Ore.; two stepdaughters, Debra Simmons of Niceville, Fla., and Cindy Stecken of Creve Coeur, Ill.; one brother, Dennis Tate of Lake of the Ozarks; four sisters, Barbara Foster of Kansas City, Joann Tollison of Mountain Grove and Shirley Reed and Karen Howell of Cabool; 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.Services were Dec. 4 at the First Baptist Church in Cabool with the Rev. Larry Dodge officiating. Burial was in the Cabool Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral home.Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Community Hospices of America. “