Willie Tate

Willie Lorene Tate, 85, of Clovis, New Mexico, died Sunday, November 5, 2006 at Laurel Ridge Healthcare in Clovis. She was born January 5, 1921 in Grady, New Mexico to William Henry and Mary Christine Powers Bailey.

At the time she was born they lived in the Grady area on a farm. She was the fifth child of eight. Her mother died when she was seven and the older brother sisters, Foy and Margaritte were instrumental in her raising. The three younger girls lived with Foy and his wife Grace for several years.

Lorene attended school at Hollene, Ruth and Ranchvale. She met her future husband A. V. Blue Tate while attending Ranchvale. They married May 20, 1940 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There were two children born, Larry and Carolyn. They also raised Jackie Dunlap from the 6th grade and always considered him one of their own. In 1982 the son and his two children came to live with them. She was again a full time mother and very influential in their lives.

She was a wonderful wife and mother. She loved to cook, sew, knit and paint. In a weeks activities she would work a full time job, sew most of the night and go to rodeos with her family. She worked at Farmers Electric Coop when it was on the corner of Commerce Way and Prince. She and her husband loved to square dance and go on trips he won while working for National Farmers Union. She spent many years involved in her childrens and grandchildrens activities.

She is survived by one daughter, Carolyn Harris of Clovis, New Mexico; son, Larry Tate of Clovis, New Mexico; brother, Foy Bailey Grace of Clovis, New Mexico; sisters, Bessie Rose of Ventura, California and Evelyn Orman of Baltimore, Maryland; four grandchildren, Derenda Tate of Clovis, New Mexico, Cory Tate of Charleston, Illinois, Melissa Griffin of Roswell, New Mexico and Kenneth Wenze of California; two great grandchildren; numerous nieces nephews; adoptive grandchildren, Annette Taylor and Kenneth Dunlap; adoptive great grandchildren, Kip Lee Taylor, Deedra Fuller, Dewey Taylor, Tabitha Azuna and Crystal McCall and eight great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters; two brothers; Jackie Dunlap; one great grandchild and one adoptive great grandson, Trevor Cole Taylor.

Pallbearers will be Darrell Bailey, Jerry Bailey, Roger Bailey, Billy Shaw, Billy Tate and Dewey Taylor.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Harper, Doris Landreth, Shirley Protho, Robby Jones, Jerry Harris, all others who assisted in mothers care and Vista Care Hospice.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 9, 2006 at Steed-Todd Chapel in Clovis, New Mexico with Dr. Herbert Bergstrom officiating. Burial will follow at Mission Garden of Memories in Clovis, New Mexico.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Ranchvale, 1696 CR 16, Clovis, New Mexico 88101.

The family will be at 3608 Linkwood.

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