Anonymous
Dear Randy, Mary, Daniel, Katie, Grandma Mary, and Ellen,
I heard something on the radio tonight of a memorial for Chance Pate. I thought that there must be some mistake. As soon as I got home I typed Chance's name in the search field and I was in shock to actually find confirmation of my fears.
Ellen.....I haven't had the privilege of meeting you but I trust that you must be a beautiful, peaceful flower to have been the woman that Chance chose as his bride.
I met chance when he was about 9 years old I think. I lived next door to the family when they lived on Duncan Road outside of White Oak. Oh he was such a good boy!! He used to come over and we would sit out in the front yard by the campfire and he would tell me of his life's ambitions. He was living for The Lord at such a young age. He used to drive his brother and sister crazy always wanting to play "school teacher." We teased him but he didn't care. He knew that he wanted to be a teacher. I was not surprised to find out years later that he had become a teacher.
The last time I saw him was at Longview's original Wal Mart Supercenter. He was not too busy to stop and say "Hi" and tease me a little about my old grocery notebook that I was still using when we were neighbors. Oh how I loved that boy.
I am deeply saddened at the thought of the grief that you all must be enduring.
I love you all and hope that you can find comfort in knowing that Chance was secure in his relationship with The Lord.
In deepest sympathy to each and everyone of you,##imported-begin##Penny Harris##imported-end##