Earl Sherwood Tate

EARL SHERWOOD TATE Funeral services for Earl Sherwood Tate of Longview, will be held at Noon Thursday, January 17, 2002, at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Reverend Robert Babb officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Rd., today, Wednesday, January 16 from 6 PM until 8 PM. Burial will take place at Rosewood Park, FM 1844, Longview. Earl Sherwood Tate, 64, of Longview, Texas died Monday, January 14, 2002 after battling lung cancer. Mr. Tate was born on January 23, 1937, in Greenville, Texas to Earl J. Tate and Bessie Mae Tate. Mr. Tate after graduation from Brownwood High School in 1955, worked at his father?s drug store, Prescription Laboratory. He was a Boys State Representative in 1954, served in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 8 years, and was past president of the Brownwood Jaycees. Mr. Tate attended the University of Texas, and later graduated from Baylor Law School earning the Degree of Juris Doctor in the Summer Term, August 10, 1974. He was an attorney for over 27 years . He came to Longview where he went to work for the law firm of Ritter, Nichols, Parker and Thibodeaux. He later joined the law firm of Nichols & Parker. In March 1975, he joined the Gregg County District Attorney?s Office with duties of collecting delinquent property taxes. When he left in 1976,he formed the partnership of Tate, White & Jones, and built the Center Street Professional Building. In 1983, he went into private practice. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas, College of the State Bar, Gregg County Bar Association, and Pro Bono Lawyer for the years 1995 and 1996. He served on the board of TV-51 of Longview, was past president of Gregg County Texas Exes, and member of the YMCA Century Club in 1984. He served several years as the technician at Trinity Episcopal Church and also served as past president of the Adult Sunday School Class. Earl?s first love was flying and he earned his pilot?s license at the prime age of 16 years of age. He also enjoyed grilling and was known among family and friends for the best steaks in Longview. His second love was traveling with his wife, Barbara and being quite the amateur travel agent that he prided himself to be, researched all avenues to obtain the ''best deal possible''. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Drew Tate of Longview, his son, Gregory Jason Tate and his wife, Nichol and one grandson, Noah Gregory Tate, all of Fort Worth, Texas. Pallbearers will be Clyde Tomlinson, Martin Cobb, B. C. Jones, Joe Perkins, Cary Kinder and Joey Tomlinson . Honorary Pallbearers will be Floyd Drew, Robert Underwood, Tommy Phillips, Marshall ''Bud'' Felker and Michael Felker. The family suggest in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Hospice Longview, 1306 Pine Tree, Longview, TX or Trinity Episcopal Church, 906, Padon, Longview, Texas. A special thanks to Kitti Barker, Charlene Browne, Joe Perkins and all the Gregg County Bar Association members.

Earl Sherwood Tate

January 23, 1937 - January 14, 2002