Jim Tate

Jim Isaac Tate Jr., age 91, of Bartlesville passed on January 23, 2023, in Luther, Oklahoma at his youngest sons’ home. Jim was born December 23, 1931, the only child of Jim Isaac Tate and Bea Mary (Crossman) Tate. He married Nellie Grace Cranor on March 14, 1953.

Jim grew up on several farms and ranches in Washington county where his father worked, before he bought the farm on Hogshooter Creek. Jim worked the dairy farm there for several years except for service in the Army for Uncle Sam. The dairy eventually became Rocky Hills Dairy. The cattle were sold at dispersal in in 1972. Jim spent years involved with the breeding of Brown Swiss cattle. It started with a foundation cow, Mary Jane, and culminated in several state, regional, and nationally recognized cattle. Jim was recognized as a Premier Brown Swiss Breeder in 2022 for his work in developing and promoting the Brown Swiss breed and his support of Jr. Brown Swiss Breeders.

Jim had a great love for hunting, especially quail. Several friends and he would gather and have hunts that lasted from chore time to chore time. His two best friends were Charley Bailey and John Akers. They always had great fun kidding each other about misses, but were quick to compliment good shots.

Jim loved all these, but his first love was serving the Lord and working in the church. He worked at and attended New Harmony Baptist church; teaching and keeping roll for classes at different times. Dad went on ten or eleven medical mission trips to Central America. He would spend the winter months packing the supplies, clothes, medicine, veterinary supplies, and food, then they would pack up and fly down there to do service for the people.

Jim was preceded in death by his father Jim Isaac Tate Sr.; his mother Bea Tate; and his wife of 52 years Nellie Tate.

He is survived by his three sons and their wives: Jim and Sherri Tate of Chouteau, Oklahoma; John and Lesley Tate of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Jerry and Sandra Tate of Luther, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren and their spouses: Jay and Brittany Tate, Harmoni and Dr. Mark Earhardt, Lance and Michelle Tate, Mackinzey and Rory Sanders, Jordan and Tierra Tate, Ashely and Cory Rink, Jamie and Ethan Snyder, Kalen Hopkins, Amanda Seeley, Hannah and Ronnie Degraaf. Between his grandchildren, Jim is also survived by seventeen great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Saturday from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm. The family will be present to greet visitors from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Funeral services will be held in New Harmony Baptist Church on Tuesday, January 31, at 2:00 pm.

Services are entrusted to Arnold Moore and Neekamp Funeral Home. Online condolences can be left at www.honoringmemories.com

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to the New Harmony Baptist Church Mission Fund.