Generation No. 1

1.  Marion A. Tate, born November 26, 1906 in Marion Co., MO; died September 13, 1999 in Maple Lawn Nursing Home, Palmyra, Marion Co., MO.  He was the son of James Henry Tate and Dora Catherine Bross.  He married (1) Mary Thelma Bernice Bornmann October 25, 1930 in Palmyra, Marion Co., MO.  She was born January 01, 1912 in Quincy, Adams Co., IL,and died November 04, 1993.  She was the daughter of Albert Bornmann and Mary Jane Reischling.

Notes for Marion A. Tate:

Hobbies included horticulture, gardening, growing flowers and fruit trees.

HE TOUCHED HEARTS OF TENNESSEE SCHOOL CHILDREN

Sept. 29, 1999

It doesn’t surprise me that our friend, Marion Tate, chose to leave us on such a beautiful September morning.  It was a surpise that we got to him at all.  A chance meeting at the St. Louis Airport and being introduced to each other by Bob and Hazel Daniels, begins his story.

Marion Tate became a pen pal to my class of fourth graders. He was their pen pal grandfather.  Each year a new class joined the last class to write to him and we wrote them. Alas, the first year became the second year, then the third, he continued to write the children until there was an amazing number of boys and girls who patiently waited to hear from Mr. Tate.

I had a large manila envelope on my desk in which the children put their letters and pictures.  When the envelope could hold no more, it was mailed to him.  At last the day came when a trip to our school was planned one fall two years ago. Mr. Tate’s good friend, Jim Davis, drove him all the way to Bartlett, Tenn.

Everyone waited watching the clock until he arrived.  He came twice that year, fall and the next spring.  Mr. Tate told stories of Mark Twain and the mighty Mississippi River, told about his one room school where some children rode horses there or brought their dogs with them.

Mr. Tate saw our library and all the books he had purchased for them. Everywhere he walked through the building of 1200 students, everyone knew who he was. Over and over he said how lucky he was to have us, when actually it was the other way about the same.

As children are trustful for a future in all things, they trusted their friend would return to them and always be there.  And as a man who always kept his word, he always will be there in the spirit of things that are good and kind, loving and giving.

He is still here for us in the hearts of the children and me and he is there for you in Palmyra.  He has made this world a better place for all of us.

There is a lone Monarch butterfly that has been at our playground all week.  It flies (the last part of this clipping is missing)

Provided by Kathy Tate
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